At nearly 80 years old, Emma Harte heads one of the world's largest business conglomerations, but her children are plotting to topple her empire. Returning to her native Yorkshire, Emma reflects on her past and improbable rise to power from humble beginnings as a maid in service at Fairley Hall. When Emma falls into a relationship with one of the Fairley sons, it changes the course of her life.

Now pregnant and alone, Emma turns to her friend Blackie for help and eventually finds a job in the textile industry. She works hard and is able to open her own shop, but her animosity towards the Fairleys only grows after a series of personal tragedies. Meanwhile, she decides to marry but neglects her family in favor of her growing business success.

Emma finds true love with a dashing Australian soldier during WWI, but he has a wife waiting for him back home. In the midst of her complicated love affairs, Emma continues to devote herself to her work, the one constant in her tumultuous life. Back in the present, Emma proves to her children that she remains a woman of substance, not to be trifled with.

Now nearly 80, Emma Harte intends to travel the world with Blackie O'Neill and pass on her business empire to her favorite granddaughter, Paula, who is married to Jim Fairley and the mother of twins. But Emma's plans don't turn out as expected, while Paula endures both domestic and professional problems as her relationship with Jim deteriorates.

Paula and Shane declare their love for each other but agree to remain apart when Jim is badly injured in a car crash. The coroner makes a ruling about Min's death, and a trap is laid for the suspected plotters. Edwina and Emma make peace, but the family is in an uproar when Emma's will is read. Burdened by grief and guilt, can Paula find the happiness and passion she deserves at last?

Paula seeks to expand Harte Enterprises into Hong Kong and the Midwest-but with opportunity comes dangers, too. From his self-exile in Hong Kong, Paula's cousin Jonathan Ainsley is determined to sabotage her plans in any way he can. An armed robbery at Harte's in London leaves a young saleswoman dead and Paula increasingly reliant on her head of security, Jack Figg.