To take up her studies in the city, shy and introvert Stella moves in with Anna’s family. Anna and her successful lawyer husband Richard take her in hesitatingly and their teenage son is not too enthused by Stella’s presence either. Despite her initial hesitations, Anna recognizes Stella’s hidden beauty and buys her new clothes which turn Stella into an attractive young woman. Richard also notices her transformation and seduces Stella, who gives in and briefly seems to bloom in this hidden and guilty relationship.

When Anna finds out about their affair she is unable to confront the situation, nor is her son, who had already found out earlier what was going on. Both remain silent. Even after Richard finally spurns and forsakes Stella, now pregnant and desperate, Anna and her son remain silent, and Stella becomes their joint victim.