Zach Foster has been by Serena Jansen's side since she was ten. All of her youthful admiration and dreams of marriage have revolved around him.
Even when he repeatedly overlooks and hurts her for others, she still believes they'll get married and have their happy-ever-after.
It's only when he holds another woman in his arms and sleeps in what's supposed to be his marital home with Serena that she wakes up from the web of lies she's woven for herself.
She blocks Zach everywhere and returns to her home, getting into a shotgun marriage with Hugh Larson, who's supposedly infertile.
She gets back at everyone who's ever hurt her and takes back everything her mother left her. Then, she kicks Zach, who begs her to take him back, out of her life.
It's only when Hugh pins her to the bed once again that she realizes this marriage—which she thinks is just a business deal that doesn't involve emotions—is something he's planned for 15 years.