Francis Burgess was ready to marry even a rattlesnake in order to get his hands on an enviable business. Shannon Sutherland, whom her father intended to marry Francis, knew about this, but she didn’t care - it seemed to her that love had died in her forever, leaving behind ashes, a barren desert, unable to give life to a new feeling. Francis and Shannon struck a deal that satisfied the interests of both parties without requiring too much sacrifice from either. But, having gotten to know Shannon better, Francis began to hope that she would feel the man in him and their marriage would become real. But is he deceiving himself? Is it wishful thinking?