An emergency room doctor living in Santa Cruz, California. Raised in a chaotic environment by neglectful parents, she has grown into a highly independent woman who struggles with forming deep emotional connections. She travels to New Zealand in search of her sister, hoping to uncover the truth about a tragedy from fifteen years ago and to finally address the lingering pain of her youth.

Kit's older sister who supposedly died in a train bombing outside Paris fifteen years ago. She now lives in New Zealand under the alias Mari, working as a garden designer and house flipper. She has built a seemingly secure life with a husband and two children, actively pushing down the painful memories of her childhood and the tragic events that led to her disappearance.

A foster brother taken in by the Bianci family. Bearing physical scars from prior abuse, he takes on a protective, parental role for Kit and Josie to shield them from their parents' neglect. Despite his caring nature and his efforts to maintain order, he copes with his own deep-seated trauma through destructive habits.

A charismatic Spanish singer visiting Auckland to grieve the loss of a close friend. He is passionate, patient, and immediately drawn to Kit. Unlike the men from her past, he approaches life with open emotion and consistently challenges her reluctance to form attachments.

Mari's devoted and loving husband, who owns a group of gyms. He values honesty above all else and is highly protective of his family. He remains entirely unaware of his wife's true identity or the secrets she left behind in California.

Mari and Simon's daughter. She bears a striking physical resemblance to her aunt, Kit, sharing her wild curly hair, matching toes, and a keen interest in science. She is curious and excited by the prospect of having a greenhouse at Sapphire House.

Mari and Simon's son, named after Mari's late father. He is an energetic boy growing up in Auckland, completely unaware of his mother's secret history or the historical significance of his name.

A recovering addict who co-owned the Eden restaurant with her husband. Though she was a neglectful and chaotic presence during her daughters' childhoods, she has spent the last fifteen years sober, actively trying to make amends and rebuild her relationship with Kit.

The former owner and chef of Eden. He was a massive, passionate personality whose intense focus on his restaurant and volatile relationship with his wife left little room for attentive parenting. He was killed in the Loma Prieta earthquake when the restaurant slid off a cliff.

A famous actress from New Zealand who found success in Hollywood before returning home to build Sapphire House. Her unsolved murder in 1938 remains a point of intense fascination for Mari, who seeks clues about the crime while renovating the property.

Veronica Parker's sister who inherited Sapphire House after Veronica's murder. She lived in the house until her recent death, leaving behind journals and magazines that Mari eagerly searches through for historical clues.

A famous actor and frequent guest at the Bianci family restaurant. He used his celebrity status and the parents' neglect to target and abuse young Josie, an experience that severely traumatized her.

A lawyer and one of Mari's closest friends in New Zealand. Her dedication to her law studies inspired Mari to pursue her own education. She is sharp and observant, occasionally noticing inconsistencies in Mari's fabricated backstory.

One of Mari's good friends in New Zealand. They initially met on a ferry and bonded over their shared interest in art, becoming a steady source of companionship in Mari's fabricated new life.

An Olympic swimmer who met Veronica Parker in 1932. He was married but fell in love with Veronica, becoming the prime suspect in her murder, though he was never officially arrested.

The Bianci family's childhood dog. He was a constant, comforting companion to Kit, Josie, and Dylan during their years living on the cliff outside Santa Cruz, providing stability during their parents' neglect.

A musician playing at a local Spanish restaurant in Auckland. He invited his friend Javier to visit him in New Zealand to help Javier process the grief of losing a close companion.

Kit's first love from when she was seventeen. Their relationship ended poorly after Josie aggressively intervened in a conflict with James's former girlfriend, leaving Kit extremely wary of future romantic commitments.