[4] Aninha, as she is lovingly called by those closest to her, suffered the loss of her father and was forced to flee to the city of Ventura, after being left destitute.

Once in Ventura, she begins to live with her uncle Margarido (Osmar Prado), her grandmother Carmen (Laura Cardoso), cousins Márcia (Drica Moraes) and Timóteo (Marcelo Novaes) and an adopted family member, Dália (Carla Daniel) on their small farm.

Although without means, Ana wishes to study and pursue a teaching career, which she is able to do thanks to the help of the Mother Superior, who grants her a scholarship at the local school.

Slowly, Danilo begins to know Aninha's kind and pure heart and they fall in love with one another, eventually spending the night together.

Bárbara despises Ana, as she believes Aninha to be unfit for her nephew due to her low social status, preferring for Danilo to be with Olga.

Ludovico, deeply touched by Ana's selflessness for having helped him, offers to marry her so that she can avoid the shame of having a son out of wedlock, which at the time was severely frowned upon.