A terrible tragedy puts an end to a group of friends' pleasure voyage. Maria hears a gunshot and finds her friend Patricia dead and in her confusion she picks up the gun. Maria is found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in jail. Her husband Esteban an important business man doesn't believe in her innocence. When he goes back to Mexico he divorces her buys the silence of everyone who was with them on the trip and tells his sons that their mother died in an accident. 20 years later Maria is freed on good conduct and returns to Mexico in search of vengeance. She decides to find the real killer and get revenge on Esteban whom she now hates because he deserted her. But what she most wishes is to reunite with her son Hector and daughter Estrella. The first thing she does is cite everyone who was on the trip: Esteban; Servando one of his associates; Demetrio the company's lawyer; Demetrio's wife Daniela; Bruno the other associate; Bruno's wife Fabiola; and Esteban's aunts Carmela and Alba. Everyone is surprised when they see Maria then doubtful and fearful when she informs them that Patricia's real killer has lived among them for 20 years. Maria remarries Esteban so that she can have her children's love back but they believe she is a stepmother who has come to take the place of their mother whom they believe is dead and whom they adore--although the portrait they have is of another woman. Maria also deals with the intrigues of Esteban's aunts and his associates mainly Fabiola who has always hated Maria and been in love with Esteban; and Maria discovers that Esteban has another son Angel and won't say who his mother is. Maria accepts the sick insecure young man immediately and treats him with love.