Claire is the unloved eldest daughter of the Carter family; having lost her mother early on, she faces constant ostracism from Margaret and her stepsister, Vivian. She fell deeply in love with Lucas after being rescued by a "mystery man" from a fire three years prior. However, on the eve of their wedding, she discovered she was merely a pawn—a shield used by Lucas to protect his true love, Vivian. Heartbroken and disillusioned, she decided to turn the tables by swapping places with Vivian, ultimately marrying Rowan, the heir to the Harrington fortune, who had been temporarily blinded in an accident.
