cast of when we rise

Born into a rural family that favored sons, Diane Quinlan fell in love at 18 with educated youth Ethan Lister and followed him to the city with their daughter. His family despised her background and made her life miserable, even falsely accusing her daughter of theft. Finally breaking free with her daughter, Diane meets Nelson Zeller, a disabled veteran. When the Lister family continues harassing them, Nelson steps up to protect them both. With his support, Diane educates herself, leverages her tailoring talents, and establishes a clothing factory. Under her devoted care, Nelson’s legs gradually recover. From abandoned wife to independent factory owner, Diane rewrites her destiny, finding love and partnership with Nelson along the way.

Hugh sacrificed his chance at the National Medical Research Council to save his wife Quinn, who had late-stage liver cancer. He sold family heirlooms to fund her treatment, but Quinn used the money to buy a car for her first love, James. She became obsessed with their past together, ignoring her son Luke's feelings. Hugh and Luke gave her three chances to change, but she refused. Finally, Hugh joined the National Physician Program and left with Luke. After he departed, Quinn regretted her actions, but it was too late to make amends.

Myles was lost at a young age and was adopted by his foster father, Travis Byrd. Eight years ago, Myles discovered his true origins and, in gratitude to his biological parents, chose to return to the York family. Over these eight years, he tirelessly developed the world's most advanced 6G technology. However, his foster brother, Rowen York, secretly sowed discord, and their parents, swayed by his words, turned against Myles. His two sisters also grew to dislike him, constantly slandering him. Eventually, Rowen even claimed credit for the development of 6G technology. Completely disillusioned, Myles decided to sever ties with the York family.

Six years ago, Fred Steel, once the president of the World Neurology Association, walked away from invitations from the world’s top medical circles to live incognito in River City. His only mission: to ensure the awakening of one man—a man whose salvation he regarded as the crowning achievement of his life. That man is Felix Quaid, CEO of Peak Group, who has remained unconscious in a top-tier medical ward for six years. Now, the very man who reshaped the world six years ago is about to wake, and his return will once again send tremors across the globe.

Leroy was the concubine's son — the one the family never truly accepted. Banished to the graveyard, he became the apprentice of Madam Gibson, the Grave Keeper. At the Martial Arts Tournament, Leroy's brilliance finally blazed forth, only to draw the ire of Fairy Ember, Elder of the Ebonveil Sect. When despair swallowed all hope, Madam Gibson revealed a power that shook the heavens. With a single sweep of her hand, she silenced the crowd, her sword aimed at the sky: "In all this world, who dares to harm my disciple?" And so began a battle that would span the Three Realms—a clash of fate, pride, and divine power.

Joanna, daughter to Europe's wealthiest family, chose love over her status and wed David Kerr. She became his behind-the-scenes supporter, using her resources to establish a fashion company for him. At a social gathering, she fell victim to a deceitful drink orchestrated by Vivian, David's childhood friend, narrowly avoiding a compromising situation. In her dire moment, a stranger came to her rescue. Upon regaining consciousness, Joanna was startled to find the infamous "Black Wolf," Ryan Cabell, was the man who had saved her. Assertively, Ryan offered to fulfill all Joanna's desires if she agreed to be his girl.

Five years ago, after a night of drinking, Sylvia Snow accidentally stumbled into the wrong room and spent a passionate night with a man she didn't know—Eric Payne. That night led to the birth of their son, Noel Snow. When Noel turns four, he starts showing strange symptoms and is locked away, treated like a monster. Just when things seem hopeless, Eric shows up and saves Noel. Sylvia soon discovers that the man from that night isn't just any man—he’s a legendary werewolf, and the secret behind their son's condition is far more extraordinary than she ever imagined.

Mia's world turned upside down when her first love, Logan Henry, re-entered her life with his young daughter, Jade Henry. As Jade became a constant presence in the family, Mia's relationship with her own daughter, Molly Justin, grew increasingly strained. Feeling overshadowed and repeatedly pushed aside, Molly slowly closed off her heart until one day, she left with her father, Mason Justin. Only after their departure did Mia awaken to the pain she'd caused. The weight of her indifference and the void left by her daughter's love began to consume her, plunging her into a spiral of irreparable remorse.

Out of desperation, Queenie Xavier sells her first night to Yarden Lewis, the man she's secretly loved for eight years. Yarden enjoys the thrill but keeps her as a secret lover, never imagining it could last. She feels the same. When the time comes, she walks away.Only then does Yarden realize he's been in love with her to the very core all along.

While delivering food, Sara Scott accidentally collided with Toby Luke, the son of the richest man in the city. Desperate to raise money for her boyfriend's research fees,Sara,feeling guilty, sold her electric bike, worth over a thousand dollars, to Toby for five thousand. This led Toby to mistakenly think she was a gold-digger. The two, who had no prior connection, became entangled due to Toby's father's will, which stipulated that he must marry the daughter of his first love to inherit the vast fortune, and that daughter turned out to be Sara. In order to secure the inheritance, Toby schemed to separate Sara from her scum boyfriend and tried to make her fall in love with him. However, in the process of his carefully laid plans, he found himself falling for Sara first.

In his original timeline, Felix Cheney, chairman of Lacario Group, was betrayed and tormented by Ena Lewis and her family. He lost his company, watched his mother suffer, and ultimately died in despair—with hatred in his heart. But fate gave him a second chance. Reborn in 2018, Felix vowed revenge. At a charity auction, he set up Ena's mother, Gloria Lindsey, let her overbid, and then refused to pay, plunging her into chaos. Meanwhile, he found Lacario Group in disarray under Ford Lewis' mismanagement and began purging the rot from within. As his family faced harassment from Howard Lewis, Felix stepped in just in time to protect his sister, Sharon. Through the trials that followed, he rebuilt broken bonds and led his family toward a stronger, brighter future.

Raena, a top obstetrician, had been married to her husband Matthias for ten years, but she suffered bullying from her mother-in-law Sara due to infertility. Later, Matthias had an affair with a younger woman named Felice and made her pregnant. Raena accidentally discovered the truth at the hospital. Faced with her husband's betrayal, the provocations from the mistress, and the pressure from her mother-in-law, Raena transformed from a passive victim to an empowered fighter. She fought back through legal means, public opinion, and her professional skills, ultimately exposing the true colors of Matthias's family. She reclaimed her property and dignity and started a new life with Romero, a celebrity gossip reporter who had secretly loved her.

After serving a five-year prison sentence, Leon Ford is eager to return home and reunite with his wife and daughter. However, on the way, he unintentionally overtakes the car of Zeke Wilson, a member of a gang. This leads to Zeke subjecting Leon to endless humiliation and torture. Determined to protect his family and seek revenge, Leon decides to retaliate. Despite the strong backing of the Wilsons, they ultimately have no choice but to submit to him.

Esther Yale grew up relying solely on her father, Edmund Yale, after her mother, May Dayne, left the family. Years of overwork took a toll on her health, and Esther developed cancer. Struggling to afford her father's medical expenses, she reluctantly sought help from her estranged mother, who had built a new life for herself. However, her attempt to reconnect was met with staunch opposition from her grandfather. After Edmund's tragic passing, Esther, burdened by grief and resentment, accepted a job as a caregiver in the Dayne Residence. Immersed in her mother's world, she began to uncover the depths of May's hidden love and sacrifices. Slowly, Esther's hatred gave way to understanding and forgiveness. When faced with a terminal diagnosis, Esther made the ultimate sacrifice to save her younger brother, leaving behind a legacy of love and reconciliation.

In her past life, Olivia was hopelessly in love with Declan Murphy, giving him everything she had, only to be abandoned. On her deathbed, she finally realizes Jake Parker's unspoken love for her—and regrets not seeing it sooner. Now reborn, she's determined to distance herself from the toxic Declan and make things right with Jake. But Declan, smug and self-assured, mistakes her intentions, thinking she's playing hard to get. When his true identity is uncovered, he faces the consequences. In the end, Olivia and Jake begin a new chapter, living a life filled with love and happiness.

Nova was separated from her mother as a child and has been searching for years. Now a wealthy tycoon, she returns home, where her bullied mother suffers. Will her arrival transform her mother’s fate?

Josefina, once a beauty queen, married into the prestigious Quincy family in glory—but soon discovered her husband, Clinton, had a secret room plastered with women's photos, with her just another target. To her shock, Clinton was also involved with her sister-in-law,Queena.Determined to protect herself,Josefina secretly conceived via IVF and began plotting her revenge. Navigating the Quincy family's power struggles, she allied with Clinton's brother, Shane, to outmaneuver her adversaries. In the end, when Queena drove off with Clinton, both meeting a tragic fate, the high-society feud finally concluded. Josefina's trials over, she emerged stronger, and her destiny took a surprising new turn.

Faye discovers that her fiancé is having an affair with the wife of secret billionaire Arvin Sterling, so she takes revenge on him by getting intimate with Arvin. However, it turns out to be Arvin’s scheme to lure Faye in his seduction game......