Maria Mercedes Capitulo 1: The Beginning of a Journey**

The story of Maria Mercedes starts with the introduction of the main character, Maria Mercedes (played by Thalía), a young and poor woman who lives with her mother, Gabriela (played by Ada Silva), and her younger brother, Felipe (played by Fernando Mejía). They live in a small house in a humble neighborhood, where they struggle to make ends meet. Maria Mercedes is a kind and hardworking person who dreams of a better life for herself and her family.

The first chapter of the telenovela introduces the villain, Ricardo (played by Arturo Pérez-Reverte), a wealthy and arrogant man who owns a large estate in the city. Ricardo is a ruthless businessman who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He is also a womanizer and has a reputation for being cruel to those who are weaker than him.