Felix Sima, an 18-year-old orphan, comes to Bucharest to study medicine and lives with his wealthy uncle, Costache Giurgiuveanu. There he meets Otilia, Costache’s beloved ward, and falls in love with her.
Most of the novel revolves around the fight for Costache’s fortune. His relatives, especially the Tulea family, want to inherit his money, while Costache hesitates to legally secure Otilia’s future. Greed, manipulation, and family conflicts dominate the story.
