Balnaird House, one of the most magnificent estates in the Scottish Highlands, is the home of the Airds - and a dark family secret: When the American businessman Conrad Tucker discovers a photo of the family in a magazine, the past catches up with him when he sees the youngest daughter Laura. He decides to get to the bottom of the matter. Edmund Aird, the head of the family, who, in addition to an extremely important business deal, is also burdened with arranging his successor, suffers a heart attack - the choice between his son Henry and Noel, the ambitious husband of his daughter Alexa, seems impossible to him. When Noel accidentally learns of Conrad's suspicions, he hatches a diabolical plan.

After the horrible accidental death of her beloved Guy, young Laura has completely withdrawn. Like everyone else, Hamish Balmerino takes care of the mourners, but even the prospect of the Balmerinos' upcoming September ball cannot cheer Laura up. Deeply disappointed in his father's decision to favor Noel, Henry joins his sister Alexa's catering business. However, the siblings have no idea that Noel has been cheating on his wife with her best friend for a long time. And yet another secret finally seems to be coming to light after years: touched by the tragic fate of her old friend Conrad, Virginia decides to tell her daughter Laura the truth about her origins. But is the unstable Laura already strong enough for this?

The Balmerinos and Alexa must take care of little Tom after his mother Lucilla dies during the complicated childbirth. As well as dealing with the death of his sister, Hamish Balmerino jealously watches Laura's new friendship with author Jake Hooper, who helped sell her first novel. Olivia Thorpe, who has been having an affair with Noel, feels torn inside: on the one hand she is enjoying it to the fullest, on the other hand she doesn't want to betray the Aird family, who welcomed her so warmly. When she accidentally learns how cold-bloodedly Noel lies and pursues his goals, she breaks up with him. But Noel doesn't shy away from blackmailing Olivia as well.