María is the mother of Emma, Elena and Eduardo, she lives with them in the midst of extreme poverty and in permanent conflict with the parents of her children, who, despite being rich, refuse to assume their responsibilities.
In the midst of her despair, María gives her eldest son to the governor so that he can take charge of educating him. Emma and Helena are heartbroken over Eduardo's departure. Roberto and María start an emotional relationship.
María starts a new life in Guateque, where she works as a manager of a chocolate shop. Emma spends her days accompanied by Betzabé, a peasant who takes care of her and a pig, her new friend.
Amid the deterioration of her relationship with Roberto, Maria has a son. Emma is deeply attached to the baby and takes care of him with the help of Betzabé. Sales in the chocolate shop are down because the priest turns the entire town against Maria.
Tired of her bad situation, María decides to leave Guateque and forces Betzabé and Emma to abandon the baby at Roberto's door. This breaks Emma's heart.
Maria decides to send Helena to school, which leaves Emma alone wandering around the tenancy. One day Emma discovers the theatrical piano, and by accident a piano teacher who makes her very happy.
Mario arrives in town to find a replacement for Mrs. María at the chocolate shop, but he quickly ends up becoming her boyfriend and the father the girls have never had.
Emma and Helena must learn to behave to ensure their permanence in the convent. Religious education generates multiple problems for them, since their evident ignorance on the subject makes some nuns believe that they are sent from the devil.
Emma and Helena, better adapted to the life of the convent, join the "Las valientes" club. Josefina, a new girl, becomes close friends with Emma and introduces her to her fantasy world.
The nuns decide to send the pope a gift on his birthday and Emma, being the best draftsman and embroiderer, is the one chosen to make the chasuble for the holy father. Everyone in the convent expects a lot from her.
The mother superior, through thick and thin, manages to get Emma and Helena to celebrate their First Communion. But on the day of the ceremony, Emma gets into a fight with another of the girls from the convent and ruins the celebration and, incidentally, her religious vocation.
Father Beltrán tries to kiss Emma and she freaks out; for fleeing from him, she gives herself a violent blow to the head. The mother superior arrives at that precise moment and expels the father from the convent.
