Violet Sterling has been by Nathan Payne's side for five years. During this time, to help him through his struggles, she pretends to be congenitally deaf and mute, even secretly funding his studio with her parents' inheritance. However, just after Nathan miraculously recovers from his deafness and his studio grows into a successful company, just as everything seems to be looking up, he accidentally reveals his true feelings: he never actually wanted to marry Violet, and he still harbors lingering thoughts for his ex-fiancée. Completely disillusioned, Violet chooses to enter into a marriage alliance with her childhood betrothal partner, Ian Grant...
