César, a sugar mill owner in Pernambuco, lives in Rio de Janeiro with his wife Maria Luiza and daughters, Débora and Suzy. One day, tired of his life, he decides to fake his own death and assume another identity. César does this with the help of França, the financial director of the sugar mill – which also belongs to Alaor. César and França stage a car accident, plunging off Avenida Niemeyer in Rio and disappearing into the sea. César leaves Alaor on the verge of bankruptcy and Maria Luiza and the two girls in poverty, completely transforming their lives.