Creator
Gina Falcone and Marcelo Ricciardi are in love; however, fate—and her brother, who disapproves of the union—ultimately tear them apart. Unaware that Gina is carrying his child, Marcelo enters into a marriage arranged by his father to a woman named Elsa. While in hiding at a convent, Gina gives birth to a daughter and names her Fiamma. However, the Mother Superior suggests she hand the child over to the father, and Gina, in the throes of a feverish delirium, agrees. Marcelo marries, and after recovering from pneumonia, Gina retreats to another convent, where she takes her vows and assumes the name Sister Piedad. Years later, Gina learns the whereabouts of her daughter and of Marcelo—now a widower with another daughter named Virginia. She then becomes "The Strange Lady" (*La Extraña Dama*), a mysterious woman who, at the end of each day, sheds her habit to visit her daughter and the man she has never stopped loving.
The first part of the story begins when Juan's little daughter (Ethan Wayne), MarĂa Bonangelo (Grecia Colmenares), is adopted by the wealthy family of EncarnaciĂłn and Manuel Olazábal, after the death of their biological mother, Amalia (Amanda Sandrelli ). MarĂa receives the last name of her new family, as well as two adoptive relatives: her sister Victoria (Viviana Saccone) and her aunt AsunciĂłn (Luisa Kuliok). The girls Victoria and MarĂa grow up as true sisters in a family ranch: "La Esperanza", until they arrive in the city of Santa MarĂa with their parents at approximately 20 years of age.
A pregnant woman finds herself in serious danger when she agrees to live with the couple who plan to adopt her unborn child.
A university professor tries to reconcile with her mother after the woman suffers a life-threatening stroke.
