Part one of the most loved telenovelas of all time, this epic 19th century drama tells the story of Matilde y Beristain (Adela Noriega), a proud and beautiful young woman of noble birth, who falls in love with penniless soldier Adolfo Solis (Mauricio Islas). Matilde"s mother, Augusta, determined that her daughter land a rich husband, pressures her to marry Manuel Fuentes Guerra (Fernando Colunga), the illegitimate son of a powerful landlord and heir to his fortune. Thus begins the dramatic love triangle and story of Matlilde"s struggle to find real love.