The first time Gardenia Wendell's boyfriend, Ian Chandler, takes her home to meet his family, she unexpectedly runs into the man who financially supported her for five years.Ansel Leager is a ruthless, domineering man who constantly lives on the edge. His one and only act of kindness was adopting a 15-year-old Gardenia.After growing up, Gardenia wants to escape from Ansel. She wants to leave her past behind completely and live like an ordinary person."Please let me go, Mr. Leager.""Even if a gardenia like you were to wither, you should wither in my garden."