In 19th-century Puebla, Mexico, Estela Ballesteros suffers from a heart problem, so her doting family allows her to study art with painter Octavio Durán and become engaged to Angel Ramirez, whom they don't like. When Estela realizes that she cannot change her irresponsible fiancé, she breaks up with him and agrees to marry Octavio. On the wedding day when they are in front of the altar, Angel interrupts the ceremony to command that the marriage not take place, which causes Estela to have a heart attack and die, and Octavio is distraught. Angel flees to Holland, where he falls in love with a dancer and they have a son. Estela's sister Daisy also dies, leaving her daughter Estelia to Octavio, who raises her to be an exact copy of her aunt Estela.—Anonymous