Lee is a former New York City chef and restauranteur who lost her business during the COVID-19 pandemic. After being physically threatened by a criminal investor, she flees to Seattle where she lives in her car and works at a low-end diner. The experience of homelessness fundamentally changes her perspective on life and survival. She forms a deep connection with a woman she rescues from the ocean, showing immense loyalty despite her own desperate circumstances.

Hazel is trapped in a highly abusive marriage to a wealthy and powerful attorney. She lives in an opulent cliffside mansion in an affluent Seattle neighborhood but functions as a prisoner in her own home. Before her marriage, she loved baking and had ambitions of opening a bakery. She is driven by a deep devotion to her mother, whose expensive medical care depends entirely on Hazel remaining in her marriage.

Jesse is an athletic young man who works as a personal trainer at an upscale gym. He lives in a sparse basement apartment but drives an expensive Audi, which suggests a complicated background. He shows early kindness to Lee when she is vulnerable and sick, providing her with much-needed affection and attention while she lives out of her car.

Benjamin is a wealthy, highly successful criminal defense attorney in Seattle. Behind closed doors, he is a cruel and manipulative individual who uses his power and financial resources to control his wife completely. He monitors Hazel's movements with security cameras and staff, restricting her diet, socializing, and personal freedoms under the guise of a domestic contract.

Teresa is Lee's sister. Their relationship was severed following a serious familial betrayal involving Teresa's fiancé. She remains unforgiving of Lee's past actions and strictly enforces the boundaries that keep them apart.

Clark is Teresa's fiancé. His infidelity was discovered by Lee, leading to a complex extortion attempt that ultimately ruptured the sisters' relationship rather than breaking his engagement.

Damon is a criminal investor who provided initial funding for Lee's dream restaurant, the Aviary. When the pandemic forced the business into bankruptcy, he resorted to physical violence to enforce his debt collection.

Hazel's mother is a woman suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Before her illness, she raised Hazel as a single mother and struggled financially. She now resides in a well-appointed private treatment facility, paid for exclusively by Benjamin.

Sean is Carter's brother. He recently served a lengthy prison sentence for a violent home invasion. He resides in a halfway house and harbors deep resentment regarding the unequal legal outcomes of their shared criminal history.

Vanessa is the wife of Benjamin's colleague, David. She operates within the same wealthy, privileged social circle as Benjamin and Hazel, participating in charity events and high-society functions.

David is a lawyer at the same firm as Benjamin. He is part of the professional network that helps insulate Benjamin from legal consequences.

Nate is a private security guard hired by Benjamin. His primary function is not just to secure the property, but to monitor Hazel's movements and ensure she does not escape her husband's control.

Karolina is Benjamin's first wife. Her brief two-year marriage to Benjamin ended in divorce and tragedy, establishing a dark precedent for his treatment of the women he marries.

Peter is Karolina's brother. He carries the heavy burden of knowing the truth about his sister's disastrous marriage to Benjamin and the ruinous aftermath of their divorce.

Detective French is a police investigator assigned to untangle the complex web of crimes surrounding the Laval household.

Rachelle is a competent and protective defense attorney. She takes on Hazel's case when very few lawyers in Seattle are willing to challenge Benjamin's influence.

Randy is the manager at Uncle Jack's, a sketchy diner where Lee finds work. He oversees a staff of people with difficult backgrounds and runs a tight, unsympathetic ship when it comes to business.

Vincent is a fry cook at Uncle Jack's diner. He is observant of his coworkers' struggles and connects Lee with a friend who can sell her a cheap replacement phone.