A well-intentioned father, extraordinarily successful, blames himself for the accidental drowning of his wife on July 4, 1898. Disrespectful of his father's rakish lifestyle, conscious the characteristics of his unknown Asiatic mother might reappear in succeeding generations, he vows to follow a celibate life, devoting himself to raising his four-year old daughter, directing her away from boys and romance into a business career. He places her in a girl's Catholic school, then on to university where she acquires a master's degree in finance and economics. He establishes a business for her under the umbrella of his own enterprise. At the age of twenty-seven, already a budding success in the world of commerce, the sudden death of her father devastates her, leaving her to face life on her own, managing her huge inheritance. A chance encounter on a snowy evening leads her into the arms of a suave charlatan who captivates her. Seeking information about her new acquaintance, her esteemed lawyer directs her to an underworld character who warns her about the nature of her challenging new paramour. Alas, blinded by first love, she misinterprets the cautionary advice. The resulting marriage is a story of altruism and greed, naivete and deceit, forgiveness and revenge as their lives become inextricably entwined. Founded on false foundations, their union crumbles. Even as they live their separate lives, they cannot escape, each obsessed with loathing in their hearts for their former partner, their insatiable desire for revenge ultimately destroying them. Their son, born with the appearance of his unknown ancestor, escapes his father's abuse, and thanks to his mother's teachings, becomes the beneficiary of his parents turbulent relationship."