While Melissa thrived under pressure, her older sister – who had tried her hand at acting and shrank from the limelight – was often ignored by their mother in a shadow of neglect and disappointment. Tiffany could do nothing to please their mother, but it wasn't until after Melissa had graduated from Harvard University with a degree in economics, found love, and married that Tiffany's personal problems culminated in a life-and-death crisis. When Melissa realized the role their mother continued to play in her sister's downward spiral, she resolved to end the manic, abusive cycle once and for all.