But their destinies change forever when Orquídea's powerful step-father Don Teófilo Córdoba plans to marry her off to Vladimir Arévalo, a rich, older businessman with a son from a previous marriage.
However, they are caught, and as a means of breaking up their relationship forever, the cruel Teófilo forces Radamés to become a witness at Orquídea's wedding, leading her to believe that he betrayed her.
Meanwhile, Héctor Córdoba, Orquídea's older step-brother and Teófilo's heir, is having a secret affair with the humble Rosalinda Vargas, the daughter of a fisherman.
Luckily, Rosalinda meets a Dominican priest who helps her give birth to a girl whom he baptises María de los Ángeles.
Orquídea who has now become one of the most powerful women in the region, discovers that María de los Ángeles is her niece, and decides to use her spoilt step-son Rodrigo to seduce her and marry her in order to have rightful claim to the Córdoba fortune.