Karen Millers pojkvän är dömd för seriemord och hon har själv hjälpt till att mörka hans brott, men nu har hon blivit frisläppt och fått en ny identitet, Emma. En sörjande mor skakas av beskedet och väljer att ta lagen i egna händer.

Pete försöker att lugna Emma efter en traumatisk upplevelse som väcker liv i gamla minnen. Mary håller en vaka för sin saknade dotter och kommer i kontakt med en ny, intressant källa samtidigt som John får allt större inblick i Karens förflutna.

Emma byter lås och ignorerar Petes telefonsamtal, samtidigt som hon stöter bort Tom och hans nyfikna frågor. John fortsätter att manipulera Esther i hopp om att kunna snärja Karen, men planen äventyras när Mary plötsligt dyker upp i Minnesota.

Emma’s return to Minnesota goes to the core of her being. Her secret protected by Esther is her daughter, Freya, being raised by foster parents. Emma wants Freya back but is finally persuaded by Pete to trust him and he will help her. Power shifts further to John in his relationship with Mary when she discovers his past. Rose finds the truth about Emma and John finally tracks his prey.

Emma determines to start her life again to be the mother her daughter deserves. Mary and John face their own exiles from their respective worlds and despite her horror at John’s true nature she is locked in his chilling power game and must continue her connection in the hope it leads to the truth about her daughter. Her world falls apart when Theresa’s remains are found.

Faced with news of Theresa’s murder, Emma begins to fear what she may be capable of having done. A local woman with second sight triggers chilling memories that point to Emma’s involvement in Theresa’s death and lead to a disturbing discovery of further damage to girls at the group home. John draws closer to an unsuspecting Emma and Mary clears her life of everything except revenge.

Emma finds herself isolated and finally making sense of a past where she murdered Theresa because she was having an affair with Kit. To assuage her guilt she pursues the truth about Jess and puts herself in further danger and leaves herself open to the terrifying presence of John Tyler. Mary numbs her pain with sex and drugs and renews John’s mission, unaware he is reaching his dangerous peak.

Emma uncovers the truth at Saint Jerome House and unwittingly sets off a terrible chain reaction in Rose who reaches out to Mary. John gaslights Emma via Tom’s phone and arranges to meet her with terrifying repercussions. The trauma of this finally unlocks her memories and reveals Theresa as Kit’s murderous accomplice.

Emma fights to survive John. Mary attempts a rescue that sees both women fight John to the death. In the coverup Mary learns the painful truth about Theresa. Mary reneges on her promise to clear Emma’s name and Emma has to flee. Finding her daughter has been taken by Theresa, Emma vows to find her. The killer of Jess is revealed and brutal justice is delivered to the Lord family.