When her mother dies, Rachel is at the mercy of her increasingly violent father. Her only escape is by marrying a kindly man with whom she finds happiness, if not passion, and with the birth of her son, her life seems complete. Rachel's growing prosperity infuriates her father and his cronies, however, and they will stop at nothing to see her destroyed. It begins to seem as though she will lose everything - but other people's lives cross hers, bringing pain and hope and uncovering a long-buried secret.