To avoid being sold off to a wealthy merchant by her aunt Aunt Yvonne, orphaned young woman Jane Ames whose family has fallen on hard times takes a risky gamble: she decides to target one of Aunt Yvonne's lovers, Hale Channing, the second-in-command of Harbor City's most powerful syndicate, to obtain study abroad funding and leave the country. She carefully orchestrates a ruse of a naive young woman and a ruthless gangster, successfully piquing Hale's interest. Just as Jane is about to make a clean escape, Hale sees through her scheme of using him, cuts off all her escape routes, and forces her to stay by his side. Her study abroad dream shattered, Jane is forced to become the syndicate boss's woman, playing the docile companion in a world of constant danger. Unexpectedly, she sees the ruthless gangster's genuine side: during a gang shootout, Hale risks his life to protect her; he also secures a study abroad application for Jane. But Hale never gets to hand the application to Jane — he is betrayed by fellow syndicate members, ambushed and falls into the sea. The budding affection between them is abruptly torn apart. Jane tearfully leaves to study abroad, only to reunite with an amnesiac Hale years later. The love she has buried deep finds an outlet, and free from the chaos of Harbor City, Jane finally lives a quiet, ordinary life with Hale — until a drug cartel raid. Hale is seriously injured protecting Jane, and the pair are forced to return to Harbor City for treatment. The lies begin to unrav
