Plot

In 19th-century Mexico, Dr. Fuentes inherits a fortune and searches for a wife. His choice is Matilde Penalver y Beristain, from an aristocratic family whose fortune has waned.

In 19th-century Mexico, Dr. Manuel Fuentes Guerra inherits a fortune from the father who never wanted to recognize him as his son. Now a gentleman millionaire, the doctor looks for an appropriate wife. He decides to course Matilde Penalver y Beristain, the daughter of an aristocratic family whose fortune has waned; Matilde is secretly promised to military official Adolfo Solis. Matilde's mother Augusta has Adolfo jailed, and Matilde's brother Humberto contracts a woman to fake to being Adolfo's in front of Matilde. Now Augusta obligates her daughter to marry Manuel. Adolfo escapes from jail, but not in time to prevent the wedding. But Matilde discovers the trap that her family had put on her and suspects that her husband had something to do with it. She decides to abandon him after the wedding, but he finds her and takes her by force to his ranch where he subjects her to various physical and moral vexations. A disguised Adolfo reaches the ranch and Manuel hires him to be the administrator of both his ranches and shows great confidence in him. Matilde comes to discover that her husband has many virtues and she gradually falls in love with him. But the newlyweds' happiness fades when the doctor discovers that his administrator is his wife's ex-boyfriend. To Matilde will come her husband's repudiation, expulsion from her home and public shame: she's pregnant and Manuel doesn't want to recognize his child.—Hector Pina

In the 19th century, a time of profound romanticism, Matilde Penalvar y Beristain challenges the rules of the aristocracy to which she belongs and falls in love with Adolfo Solis, an army solder with no fortune, and trusts that her fair and kind father will let her marry him. But her mother Augusta is determined to force her to marry a rich man to save the family from bankruptcy. Manuel Fuentes Guerra is the perfect candidate. He is a honorable and handsome young man who has just inherited a vast fortune. Augusta ignores that Manuel is the illegitimate son of Joaquin Fuentes Guerra, a powerful landlord who raped a poor town girl and only months ago recognized Manuel as his son. Using all kinds of intrigues, the arrogant Augusta and her son Humberto, send Adolfo to prison and make Matilde believe that he is married and has children. Overwhelmed and despaired, Matilde surrenders to her mother's pressure and agrees to marry Manuel, especially after she learns that he has paid the family's debts. Adolfo escapes from jail and immediately goes to look for his beloved Matilde, who has just married Manuel. Desperate, Adolfo manages to secretly speak with Matilde and to clarify the misunderstandings. Swearing they will love each other forever, they decide to run away, but Manuel discovers them. Deeply hurt, Manuel is not willing to give her up; he takes her to his ranch in the countryside where they consummate the marriage. Matilde's life in the house is tedious and bitter. She does not love her husband, and she must also endure Antonia, the former administrator's daughter, who is in love with Manuel. Meanwhile, after an intense and frantic search, Adolfo finds Matilde and intending to take her away, pretends to be the new ranch administrator. Manuel, ignoring Adolfo's real identity, sympathizes with him and gives him a special, friendly treatment. In spite of the situation, Adolfo has to admit that Manuel is an honest, noble and fair man. At that point, Manuel and Matilde discover that they have been victims of Augusta's and Humberto's deceit. As time goes by, the subtle attentions, the glances full of passion and Manuel's avid desire, end up conquering the heart of Matilde. Suddenly one day, she realizes that the love she felt for Adolfo has disappeared, and that in its place has come a new, more intense feeling, a real love towards her husband. Full of grief, Matilde tells Adolfo the truth. Although she does not want to hurt him, her love does not belong to him anymore. Heartbroken, Adolfo accepts his reality and leaves the ranch the same day Matilde announces to her husband that she is pregnant. But the couple's happiness does not last long. Manuel discovers who his new administrator was, and in an instant everything falls apart. Matilde's pleas and explanations cannot convince Manuel, he feels betrayed once again and cannot forgive her. Driven by his anger Manuel doubts his paternity and throws Matilde out of the ranch. Later, he tries to forget her with Antonia, starting a compromising relationship that will later make more difficult his reconciliation with Matilde. They love each other intensely in spite of the separation, but they will have to face conflicts and intrigues before they can be together and live happily forever.—nurguns73@hotmail.com