Edward, My Son

An ambitious patriarch who climbs from modest beginnings to wealth and status, Boult convinces himself that the ends justify the means when protecting his son Edward. He marries pragmatism to deception, orchestrating fraud and manipulation to shield their family. Over the years he becomes a powerful financier, yet his moral compass remains bent and brittle, enabling tragedy to unfold around him.

A wife torn between loyalty to her husband and the moral cost of his schemes, Evelyn grows increasingly wary as Boult's actions threaten Edward and their family. She drinks to cope with the scandal and moral strain, and ultimately faces a choice between silence and exposure. Her evolving perspective reveals the price of a life lived in fear of public disgrace.

A physician and friend who becomes entangled in Boult's web, Woodhope serves as the voice of conscience and a threat to secrecy. He loves Evelyn, but his integrity puts him at risk as Boult seeks to silence him. As the years pass, his loyalty is tested by the web of lies surrounding Edward's shadowy fate.

Boult's secretary who becomes his lover, Eileen navigates professional loyalty and personal desire. She participates in cover-ups and ultimately pays a heavy personal price when the truth threatens to surface. Her double life highlights the corrosive effects of secrets on trust and ambition.

Boult's partner in crime, a man whose fraudulent scheming aligns with Boult's ambitions. His willingness to gamble with others' futures ends in despair when he takes his own life after a failed deal. His arc exposes the precarious edge of trust in a world built on deceit.

Boult's early financial associate who shares in the risk of risky ventures and the lure of quick profits. He remains a foil to Boult's growing power, a reminder of how partnerships can be built on shifting loyalties.

Betty is pregnant with Edward's child and caught in the orbit of Boult's schemes. She challenges Boult's control, refuses to be bought off, and asserts her independence. Her interactions with Boult illuminate themes of choice, consequence, and social pressure.

A figure tied to Boult's world of deals, Kedner represents the professional layer of Boult's empire—law, finance, and the networks that enable deceit. He acts as a quiet observer and occasional facilitator of Boult's schemes.