Mercy is a 27-year-old Korean American woman who moved to Hong Kong seeking a fresh start after graduating from Columbia University. She struggles to find her path and works a series of odd jobs, feeling socially isolated from her wealthier peers. She carries immense guilt and believes she is cursed with bad luck after a tragic incident involving the child she was babysitting.

Margaret is a wealthy expatriate and former architectural designer who relocated from the United States to Hong Kong for her husband's career. She is a mother of three who recently experienced a devastating family tragedy when her youngest son went missing. She cannot cope with her grief in her family home, so she secretly rents a small apartment in a working-class neighborhood where she isolates herself during the day.

Hilary is an independently wealthy housewife from San Francisco who followed her attorney husband to Hong Kong. She fills her days with country club lunches and charity work but feels deeply unfulfilled and stagnant. She struggles with infertility and a chilly marriage, considering adopting a child from a local orphanage but remaining paralyzed by indecision.

David is a successful attorney whose career prompted his and Hilary's move to Hong Kong. He feels increasingly trapped in his marriage and is uncomfortable with his wife's independent wealth. He frequently goes out drinking alone, avoiding his home life and contributing to the growing emotional distance between him and Hilary.

Clarke is a successful businessman working for a multinational corporation in Hong Kong. He is about a decade older than his wife, Margaret, and serves as the stabilizing force for their family following the disappearance of their youngest son. While Margaret retreats into her grief, Clarke manages the daily routines and emotional needs of their surviving children.

Daisy is the eldest child of Margaret and Clarke Reade. She moved to Hong Kong with her family at the age of nine and is generally an obedient, good student. In the aftermath of her younger brother's disappearance, she quietly searches for answers about grief on the internet.

Philip is the middle child of the Reade family. Previously a happy and active eight-year-old, he becomes increasingly fearful and anxious after his younger brother goes missing. His underlying trauma surfaces when he is briefly separated from his parents during a family vacation, causing him to panic.

G is the four-year-old youngest son of Margaret and Clarke Reade. His disappearance in a crowded Korean market serves as the central trauma that fractures his family and haunts his former babysitter. Though physically absent from the present narrative, his memory dictates the emotional states of those who lost him.

Julian is a seven-year-old biracial boy living in a local Hong Kong orphanage. Due to his age and background, he has low prospects for adoption until he meets Hilary during her charity tour. He speaks very little English and remains cautious and observant during his weekly visits to Hilary's opulent home.

Olivia is a wealthy, beautiful Hong Kong native and part of the local elite. Unlike the transient expatriate community, she has deep roots in the city and views the foreigners with mild detachment. She serves as a pragmatic and blunt confidant for Hilary, often encouraging her to stop worrying about public opinion.

Charlie is a young Chinese man who previously attended Columbia University with Mercy. He is kind, earnest, and somewhat awkward, maintaining a practical outlook on life that contrasts with Mercy's superstitious nature. He attempts to rekindle a connection with her when they cross paths in Hong Kong.

Puri is Hilary's live-in housekeeper from the Philippines. She manages the daily operations of the Starr household and shows immediate warmth and understanding toward Julian. Her employer often dismisses her personal struggles as overly dramatic, which illustrates the class divide within the expatriate home.