I think someone did a short synopsis of Carly's story in another thread, but Carly ran away from home to avoid an arranged marriage, changed her name, went to college, roomed with Jennifer Horton, later became a doctor. Fell in love with a man named James, had a child, one that Vivian Alamain stole and raised herself.
Carly came to Salem, and with Hope supposedly dead, fell in love with Bo, got engaged but ended up marrying Victor who had blackmailed her. Vivian was taking some kind of herbs that made her goofy, she buried Carly alive. Lawrence ended up rescuing her. It was learned that Lawrence was actually James, and Lawrence was also the man (she had never seen) who was the other half of the arranged marriage. Eventually, Lawrence & Carly admitted their love to each other, took their son Nicky and left Salem together.