Vivian is the twenty-eight-year-old heiress to Lau Jewels and an independent event planner working in New York City. She works hard to establish a professional life outside of her family's wealth, refusing to rely entirely on her trust fund. Fearful of being disowned and highly obedient to her critical parents, she reluctantly accepts an arranged marriage to billionaire Dante Russo.

Dante is the thirty-six-year-old CEO of the Russo Group and the head of an extremely wealthy, old-money Italian family. He operates with strict control and ruthless efficiency, often employing morally gray tactics to protect his business and his family. Francis Lau forces him into an arranged marriage with Vivian by holding incriminating photos of Dante's younger brother, igniting Dante's desire for revenge.

Francis is the ambitious founder of Lau Jewels, having built his company from a small shop into a massive empire. He is obsessed with securing his family's acceptance into the highest echelons of old-money society. To achieve this, he orchestrates Vivian's arranged marriage by aggressively blackmailing Dante Russo with life-threatening photographs.

Cecilia is Vivian and Agnes's mother, deeply affected by the prejudices and exclusionary practices of the blue-blood elite. She enforces rigid perfectionism on her daughters, frequently criticizing Vivian's clothes and behavior to ensure they meet the standards of upper-class society.

Agnes is Vivian's older sister who married a man from Eldorra under her parents' direction. Having gone through the arranged marriage process herself, she serves as a sounding board for Vivian, understanding the immense pressure their parents exert.

Luca is Dante's younger brother, known for avoiding responsibility and spending his life partying. His secret affair with a dangerous woman creates the central vulnerability that Francis Lau exploits, forcing Dante to restrict Luca's allowance and make him work at a family jewelry store.

Giovanni is Dante and Luca's father. Recognizing early on that he was ill-suited for the demands of parenting, he and his wife left their sons in the care of the boys' grandfather and traveled the globe.

Janis is Dante and Luca's mother. She openly admits to Vivian that she and her husband were not capable of being good parents, believing their early absence was ultimately better for their sons than staying and failing at the role.

Sloane is one of Vivian's closest friends and the owner of a boutique public relations firm. Known for overworking herself, she provides Vivian with a reliable support system, a place to stay during crises, and practical, grounded advice.

Isabella is a writer and bartender who serves as one of Vivian's closest friends. She is highly outgoing, frequently teasing Vivian about the physical realities of her engagement, and acts as a vocal advocate for Vivian's happiness.

Kai works at Mode de Vie magazine and is one of Dante's best friends. He acts as Dante's primary sparring partner and serves as a vital voice of reason, actively urging Dante to treat Vivian with respect rather than punishing her for her father's actions.

Christian is a security expert and close associate of Dante. He commands the operation to locate and destroy Francis Lau's blackmail material. He frequently acts as the voice of vengeance, pushing Dante to finish their retaliatory plans without letting personal feelings interfere.

Heath is Vivian's college best friend and ex-boyfriend. Vivian ended their relationship years prior under the threat of disownment from her parents. Having recently achieved financial success, he reenters her life hoping her family will finally approve of him.

Greta is Dante's housekeeper and cook. Having helped raise Dante and Luca after their parents left, she holds a special, protected status in the household, allowing her to openly criticize Dante's behavior without fear of being fired.

Buffy is the influential head of the Legacy Ball committee. She represents the prejudiced, old-money society of New York, frequently attempting to use her social power to bully Vivian into making professional concessions.

Maria is the niece of a famously vicious Italian mafia don. Her secret sexual affair with Luca is captured on film, creating the deadly leverage that Francis Lau uses to control Dante.

Gabriele is a vicious mafia don based in Italy. He is known for dealing brutal punishments to any man who touches the female members of his family without permission, making his potential discovery of Luca's affair a lethal threat.