Clara Dalton has loved Alexander Whitman since she was sixteen, staying with him through the earthquake that crippled him, the loss of his inheritance and the hardest years of his career — while serving as his secretary at Whitman Group. Three months into her pregnancy, Alexander secretly ends it and has one of her kidneys removed for Vivian Crown, his first love. Overhearing the truth outside the ward, Clara calls Damian Lockwood — Alexander's most hated rival, head of Lockwood Group — and proposes; within seven days she resigns, leaves the country and registers the marriage. Only after losing her care does Alexander realize that his life, his health and his company all ran on Clara, and he sinks ever deeper into Vivian's tears and lies while dragging Whitman Group toward collapse. Pregnant, Vivian schemes to give the child the Whitman name, swallow both families' assets and control Alexander with black-market drugs. Clara and Damian strike back together: tracing the organ, reclaiming her kidney, refusing every plea and every intrusion, and continuing their acquisitions — while Alexander loses his legs, his company and his future in one final out-of-control chase.
