Noah is a 19-year-old college student living in Los Angeles, California. A year after a painful breakup with her stepbrother Nick, she continues to struggle with her lingering feelings for him. She works hard to establish her independence through her college courses and a new internship at the company LRB. Her traumatic upbringing drives her desire to build a stable, self-sufficient adult life.

Nick is a 23-year-old entrepreneur who recently relocated from Los Angeles to Manhattan after inheriting Leister Enterprises from his late grandfather. He masks his heartbreak over his breakup with Noah by throwing himself into corporate work and maintaining superficial romantic arrangements. He exhibits a dominant personality that often borders on controlling when dealing with those he cares about.

Michael is Noah's former therapist who abused his position of power, creating the central rift between Noah and Nick in the past. He has a history of manipulative and abusive behavior. His sudden reappearance on Noah's college campus causes immediate distress and forces her friends to threaten police involvement.

Sophia is a close friend to Nick who provides him with companionship in New York. Because her father is running for governor of California, she requires a respectable public image to ward off unwanted suitors and satisfy her family's political expectations. She asks Nick to pose as her boyfriend for the press, a role he accepts to maintain emotional distance from his past.

Steve has worked for the Leister family since Nick was a young child. He functions as Nick's personal driver, bodyguard, and primary fixer. Because Nick often feels alienated from his actual family, he relies heavily on Steve's quiet discretion and steadfast loyalty in both personal and professional matters.

Jenna is Noah’s buoyant and determined best friend, preparing for her vineyard wedding to Lion. Coming from a wealthy background, she frequently offers Noah financial and emotional support. She remains optimistic about Noah and Nick's fractured romance and actively encourages them to communicate and resolve their differences.

Lion is Nick's best friend and Jenna's new husband. His wedding in the Hamptons serves as the catalyst for Nick and Noah's tense reunion. He maintains a close bond with Nick and keeps him updated on important events occurring in Los Angeles.

Raffaella is Noah's mother, who married the wealthy William Leister and relocated the family to Los Angeles. She survived a highly traumatic marriage to Noah's biological father. She attempts to rebuild her relationship with Noah after past infidelities and betrayals strained their bond.

William is Nick's wealthy father and Noah's stepfather. He expects strict corporate obedience from Nick regarding the operations of Leister Enterprises. His complex past decisions, including fathering Maddie with his ex-wife, continue to create tension within the extended family.

Luca is Lion's brother, who spends time with Noah during the wedding weekend. He runs with Noah on the beach and provides her with a temporary distraction from Nick's intimidating presence. He understands Noah's lingering feelings for her ex and respects her boundaries.

Maddie is Nick's young sister and William's biological daughter. She finds herself caught in the middle of tense family disputes regarding custody. She looks up to Noah, who provides her with gentle care and comfort during loud family arguments.

Anabel is Nick and Maddie's mother. She has a history of abandoning her familial responsibilities, which causes Nick to view her with deep suspicion and anger. Her sudden health crisis forces the family to rearrange Maddie's living situation entirely.

Simon is a co-owner of LRB alongside Lincoln Baxwell and Nick. He hires Noah as an intern and quickly develops a romantic interest in her. He is professional in the office but crosses boundaries by asking his young employee out on dates.

Lincoln is an associate of Jenna's father and a business partner at LRB. He recognizes Noah's potential as a law student and offers her a pathway to an internship at his firm, unknowingly setting up a workplace conflict with Nick.

Briar is Noah's former friend and Nick's ex-girlfriend. She holds deep-seated grievances against both Nick and Noah due to past traumas involving the Leister family. She suffers from severe mental health struggles that drive her to target Noah's happiness.

Charles is Michael's brother, whom Noah befriended the previous year. He attempts to mediate the conflict between Noah and Michael, insisting that his brother is seeking help for his mental health issues and wants to make amends.