Charis Adderly is the secret, mute, mixed race, niece of Mayor Harlow Radclyffe's wife, Madeline. The Radclyffes are the spice of Deer Creek, Alabama; a small town of wealthy people, which is why Charis is passed off as their maid. The glorified men of this town do what they desire to whom they desire, without consequence. That is until Charis witnesses the Mayor in a dangerous compromising position. Her dreary and horrific existence takes a dramatic turn when she is faced with a choice. She can either reveal her secret to the town and face scrutiny, jail time, maybe even death, or allow the Mayor to continue in his deceit. While taking care of her daily errands, Charis runs into the handsome Sheriff's son, Kolton Winfield. He is strangely taken by her rustic appearance. He proceeds to display his interest, but is quickly reminded that he is engaged to marry the Magistrate's daughter, Livy Vickers. Soon Charis is thrust into a forbidden whirlwind romance that changes her life forever.