Zoe Morgan was just ten years old when her life changed forever. Her sister, Rose, died of a rare illness, her parents turned into people she didn't know, and Zoe's lonely childhood drove her to focus only on her studies.

As a graduate of Yale, Zoe takes a leave of absence from medical school to work in a shelter for abused children in New York, where she meets well-known child advocacy attorney. She is bowled over by his charm and dedication to his cause. He is her first love and the man she marries.

Austin and Zoe have a perfect life and feel their family is complete when a baby daughter arrives. But it is only then that the devastating psychological impact of her sister's death all those years ago affects their lives in a way that nobody could ever have imagined. Will Zoe's obsession with motherhood tear her family apart?