Vera Kemp, heiress of an industrial enterprise, lives in an apparently perfect world. While she doesn't care for big business, her husband Manfred runs the company. However, she learns about his affair with a younger woman and tries to save her marriage. During a vacation in Italy, Manfred and their son Max die in a road accident. Vera nearly despairs of her grief and, even worse, recognizes that her whole life has been a lie. Andreas Wolgast, a former employee, is the only one who supports her fight for the company and against her caballing family...