1965. Shortly after giving birth to a baby girl in the Daimaru Family's country villa, Keiko Daimaru passes away. The crying baby is temporarily placed in the care of the Mizushima Family, caretaker of the villa. Coincidentally, Shizuko Mizushima also gives birth to a baby girl. While those in the villa prepare for Keiko's funeral, tragedy strikes the two babies. Shizuko's husband Ryusaku has too much to drink and accidentally knocks over a pot of boiling water, burning the Daimaru's baby. In a panic, he decides to exchange their clothes, and deliberately hands the wrong baby to the Daimaru Family.
When Shinobu Mizushima and Chizuko Daimaru grow up, they find out the truth of their background and they curse their ill-fated lives. For many years they hate, blame, and envy each other, but the girls eventually come to accept one another. Just when strong ties of friendship start to develop between Shinobu and Chizuko, another bond grows between Chizuko and Shinobu's husband, Tetsuya. What's more, Chizuko becomes pregnant with his child. |