Thomas and Alfred were delivered concurrently; a fire in the nursery forced caregivers to scramble to preserve the infants. Because Thomas believes he deserved Alfred's good fortune in being born into a wealthy family, he conjures the idea that he and Alfred were switched at birth, and he can't help but see that his misery should be Alfred's, from the loss of his sister to his inability to have a relationship with the woman Evelyne. As his life draws to a close, he devises a strategy of vengeance against his bitter rival, his longtime nemesis, the guy who stole his existence.