How can one know what love is if they have never experienced true love. Is it the gifts John showers on Annie or the many times her tells her of his love? Or is it the discipline he uses to keep her in line? Annie Taylor can't understand why her father uses her and her mother as a punching bag. She leaves college to care for her dying mother and find herself caring for her younger sister, with no money and no place to live. When a handsome young man says he loves her and wants to take care of her, Annie finds the idea attractive until his love turns into a fight for her life. Escaping from John's love takes all her wits and courage, after finding what real love is in a most unlikely place. She discovers that her loving husband will go to any lengths to protect his secret life while putting hers in jeopardy.