Top student Zoe Lee plots revenge against the Crawford family by carefully approaching CEO Jude Crawford and becoming his secretary. She quickly gains his trust with exceptional intelligence, and signs a "contract lover" agreement with Jude to help him escape a forced business marriage. While pretending to be a couple, the two engage in a battle of wits and emotions between equally matched opponents, growing from mutual suspicion to uncontrollable affection. Zoe advances step by step on her revenge path, using the feelings of Jude's younger brother Jasper Crawford to fend off harassment from Jude's mother Marilyn Crawford. However, she discovers that Jude has long secretly investigated her background and has been allowing her actions all along. To her greater shock, a DNA test reveals that Jude, the man she swore to take revenge on, is the long-lost biological son of her adoptive mother Jean Jin. Jude also received the same report long ago, but chose to hide it, secretly providing Jean with the best medical care and protecting her in silence. When the truth comes out, both are deeply hurt. Zoe is heartbroken by Jude's "deception" and leaves with her adoptive mother. After going through immense pain, Jude lets go of everything to chase after Zoe. During the final days of Jean Jin's life, mother and son are reunited, and Zoe and Jude resolve all misunderstandings. After Jean passes away, they return to Harbor City hand in hand, working together to fight Marilyn's attempts to sell off the Crawford
