Avril, a remarkable young woman, endured mistreatment and scorn from her family who branded her as incapable. She enters a marriage with the elderly and lecherous Duke Dylan to replace her half-sister. To her surprise, Dylan turns out to be a handsome and kind-hearted man contrary to his scandalous reputation. Dylan seeks a marriage with a 'villainess,' offering Avril a chance at freedom through a prearranged divorce in three years. Despite the confusion of those around her, Avril embraces the role of the calculated 'villainess' with charm and intrigue, slowly captivating those in her midst.