Plot summary of "Triunfo del Amor" (Triumph of Love)

A humble girl named Victoria is attracted to Juan Pablo, a future priest, son of the Iturbe family who own the house in which she works. The attraction is mutual and in a night of absolute passion they give themselves over to love, but this has grave consequences: Victoria becomes pregnant and Bernarda, Juan Pablo's mother, discovers the truth and throws Victoria out of the house. Juan Pablo does not know there is a little girl on the way.

Victoria, defenseless and without work, is helped by Atonieta; they work together in a clothing workshop owned by Humberto (who tries to rape her). Victoria's daughter Maria disappears after an accident caused by the evil Bernarda who, blinded by religious fervor, cannot permit a daughter of sin to survive. Victoria and her friend seek the baby but never find her; full of rage, Victoria swears before God that she will never be humiliated again.

Many years pass and Victoria has kept her vow: now she and Antonieta own a grand fashion house. Victoria is happily married to a popular actor, Osvaldo Sandoval, who has two children, Maximiliano y Fernanda.

"Abandoned Maria" is now a young woman ready to leave the orphanage where she grew up and to sally forth into the world, to triumph. Linda and Nathy appear in her path, two great friends. They become roommates and decide to help each other.

Life causes Maria to cross paths with Osvaldo, who learns that her dream is to become a famous model and that she greatly admires Victoria. He invites her to meet his wife, but the interview is far from friendly; Victoria treats her with arrogance and disrespect, even more so when she realizes Maria looks exactly as she herself did when she was young. On her side, Maria meets Maximiliano and a great love arises between them, a love which is rejected by Victoria and is threatened by the capricious Jimena, Max's girlfriend.

Maximiliano is Victoria's adopted son, but he has been raised believing she is is true mother; he is accustomed to having whatever woman he wants but has only been able to maintain a relationship - albeit unstable - with Jimena. He tries his usual tricks on Maria, and seduces her - however, he finds it is true love, frustrated when Jimena tells Maximiliano she is pregnant and that he should leave Maria.

Full of rage and sadness caused by Victoria's constant disdain and by discovering that she herself is also pregnant, "Abandoned Maria" seeks help from Father Juan Pablo, now a respected priest, not imaging that his lost daughter is so near - until Bernarda, in confession, reveals that the girl is the child he had with Victoria...