Cole is raped by his stepfather

On a rainy London night in 1946, novelist Maurice Bendrix has a chance meeting with Henry Miles, husband of his ex-mistress Sarah, who abruptly ended their affair two years before. Bendrix's obsession with Sarah is rekindled; he succumbs to his own jealousy and arranges to have her followed.

The Affair explores the emotional effects of an extramarital relationship between Noah Solloway and Alison Lockhart after the two meet in the resort town of Montauk in Long Island. Noah is a New York City schoolteacher with one novel published (book entitled A Person who Visits a Place) and he is struggling to write a second book. He is happily married with four children, but resents his dependence on his wealthy father-in-law. Alison is a young waitress trying to piece her life and marriage back together in the wake of the tragic death of her child. The story of the affair is told separately, complete with distinct memory biases, from the male and female perspectives.

Convinced that his stepdaughter, Marley, is as sexually driven as he imagines, Steven sets out to seduce her one summer morning. After having a one night stand with her stepfather, Alec, Karla does her best to resist the temptation of a second time. When a series of spankings doesn't yield better behavior from his stepdaughter, Kasey, Mark begins wondering if she actually enjoys it. Megan catches her doting stepfather, Tommy, off guard when she offers him a very provocative birthday gift – her virginity.