Alle afleveringen

Hertha von Guldenburg has died. The reading of her will leaves everyone involved astonished. According to the will, Friedrich von Guldenburg, Hertha’s brother-in-law who emigrated to Brazil, is to inherit the shares in the family’s bank, Schulte & Co. Claudio Torres, Friedrich’s grandson, is present at the reading of the will. Chauffeur Kröger and Hertha’s housekeeper, Gertrud, are convinced that the will is a forgery. Christine von Guldenburg and estate manager Hannes von Meerungen are concerned that the provisions of the will could jeopardize the future of the Guldenburg estate. Jan Balbeck, still worried about his mother’s deteriorating health, takes an active role in running the business. He is determined to sign a new contract with the Guldenburgs for the American business **at any cost**.

Count Steinfeld visits his family at Guldenburg. He longs to see Nane and his great-granddaughter Tina (Laura Wolpers). Achim Lauritzen, who knows the contents of Hertha’s missing will, begins pulling strings and initially intends to sell the information to Jan Balbeck. However, for good reasons, he then informs Carina de Angeli that her son Martin has been named the principal heir. Evelyn, finally divorced from Achim, takes drawing lessons and falls in love with her teacher, Christoph, a struggling artist. Christine von Guldenburg gets on the trail of the mystery surrounding Friedrich von Guldenburg’s emigration through Claudio Torres. Friedrich has become an influential construction magnate in Brazil. Christine is counting on Friedrich’s support to preserve the Guldenburg estate. However, Claudio gives her little reason for hope.

Through his friend and front man, Harald Bosse, Jan Balbeck tries to buy the Guldenburgs’ stud farm, intending to take over the Guldenburg estate step by step. Christine von Guldenburg and Hannes von Meerungen become suspicious. Evelyn von Guldenburg has organized an exhibition opening for Christoph, to which she has invited both the Balbecks and the Guldenburgs. Achim, who is trying to rescue the fashion company from financial trouble, is annoyed that Evelyn is neglecting her work and even causes a meeting with a textile manufacturer to fall through. In exchange for his information, he offers Carina de Angeli a financial stake in Evelyn’s fashion designs. Claudio Torres has fallen in love with Nane. Tobias, visiting from Berlin, is consumed with jealousy.

After a heated argument with Tobias, Nane leaves the castle. She wants to go to the airport because Claudio Torres is flying back to Brazil. Baron von Meerungen and Christine von Guldenburg have traveled to Bremen for a few days. The Guldenburg horses are being auctioned there. Harald Bosse is among the bidders and manages to acquire the best horses. Christine allows herself to become closer to Meerungen, and the two confess their love for each other. However, they agree that their relationship must remain a closely guarded secret for now. During their stay together in Lucerne, Margot Balbeck wins a million-mark bet against corrugated-sheet manufacturer Horst Strobel. One of her wishes comes true: her son Jan becomes engaged to Barbara Strobel. Kitty returns unexpectedly from Venice — alone. Her husband, Thomas von Guldenburg, cannot overcome his gambling addiction. In Hamburg, she has a bitter confrontation with her brother Jan.

Christine von Guldenburg and Hannes von Meerungen want to get married. Then Edith von Meerungen unexpectedly arrives at the castle and makes it clear that she will never agree to a divorce. Aenne Günther is worried about her friend Christine. She doubts that Meerungen is the right man for her. After separating from Thomas von Guldenburg, Kitty finds support in Achim Lauritzen and Evelyn. When the trio attends a PR event for Balbeck’s beer, a major confrontation erupts between Kitty, Jan, and Margot Balbeck.

Kitty and Achim Lauritzen want to join forces against Jan Balbeck, who is trying to seize control of the Balbeck empire. They devise a battle plan, also with the aim of opening the eyes of Margot, whose health has deteriorated considerably, to the ruthless nature of her son’s true plans. Carina de Angeli, now a journalist for the gossip magazine *Starexpress*, is on the trail of Detective Altdorf, who apparently carried out a shady assignment. What does he know about the truck accident in the Abruzzo region years earlier, when a truck carrying a fashion collection by Evelyn’s fiercest competitor crashed and burned completely? Hannes von Meerungen visits his wife, Edith, and their daughter Denise to settle matters once and for all. But Edith refuses to change her mind. Tobias, who is still in love with Nane, refuses to let her and little Tina leave Germany for Brazil. One night, Nane finds herself standing in front of an **empty crib**.

During a business meeting with Jan Balbeck and Christine at Guldenburg, it becomes clear that Jan has devised a sophisticated trap: he has used the Guldenburg name merely as a springboard for the American business. The Guldenburgs failed to have the name internationally trademarked. The dispute over little Tina escalates. Because of this, Kröger even considers giving up his position with the Guldenburgs. He and his wife, Johanna, have retreated to his brother-in-law’s farm in Schleswig-Holstein. The two of them intend to take care of their granddaughter Tina there. Then, unexpectedly, Nane appears.

Edith von Meerungen arrives at Guldenburg Castle with her daughter, intent on sowing discord. Nane has flown to Rio de Janeiro to be with Claudio Torres. The couple enjoys some romantic moments until a dramatic incident occurs. Achim Lauritzen attempts to go into business on his own. He holds talks with Maurice Bernard, the owner of a chain of boutiques. Achim wants to sell Evelyn’s designs, including the rights to her name. At that very moment, the police arrive at his home with an arrest warrant. *Starexpress*, the widely circulated gossip magazine, has published the details surrounding the mysterious accident in the mountains. Through Mrs. Stahl and Kitty, Margot Balbeck gets on to her son Jan’s trail. She discovers documents bearing forged signatures and confronts him.

The mood at Guldenburg is bleak. Hannes von Meerungen discovers that Jan Balbeck is secretly behind the purchase of the Guldenburg bank and stud farm. After the brewery fire, Christine is forced to negotiate with Jan again. Mrs. Reinders leaves the castle because of her unhappy love for von Meerungen. Kitty and Achim try to stop Jan from taking over Guldenburg, while Jan plots with Dr. Müller-Hellwege against Margot. In Rio, Nane’s relationship with Claudio seems perfect, but family tensions complicate their happiness. Then the Guldenburgs receive a devastating shock: Sascha, the future heir, announces that he wants to sell Guldenburg.

Jan Balbeck bribes a doctor to have his mother committed to a psychiatric hospital. He plans to have her declared legally incompetent. Kitty and Achim Lauritzen rescue Margot and hide her in a hotel. Achim plans to buy Guldenburg from Sascha and needs Margot’s signature. In Brazil, Nane tries again to contact Frederico Torres, but he makes her a shocking offer: give up Claudio in exchange for money. Evelyn decides to save her career by breaking up with Christoph and approaching Maurice Bernard. Meanwhile, Jan makes Christine an offer for Guldenburg, hoping to win his mother over and defeat Kitty.

Christine sees only one way to save the Guldenburg estate: asking the aging Frederico Torres for help in Brazil. Jan kidnaps Margot from the hotel to keep her away from Kitty. Already in poor health, Margot panics and leaves the house after taking too many pills. The situation reaches a climax when Margot, almost delirious, arrives at Guldenburg Castle. She suffers a heart attack in the salon. Jan flees before von Meerungen and Count Steinfeld arrive. **It is too late to save Margot.**

Margot Balbeck’s sudden death has serious consequences, especially for Jan. Achim Lauritzen steps in and uses an article by Carina de Angeli to prove Jan’s responsibility for his mother’s death before the Balbeck board. A scandal erupts. Cornered, Jan throws himself into Hamburg’s nightlife. Kitty refuses to give Achim the reward he expected, and he also loses Evelyn for good. She has entered a business partnership with Maurice Bernard. Nane and her mother enjoy happy days in Rio until Christine meets Frederico Torres at his estate. He remains a ruthless businessman and still holds a grudge against the family. He insists that Nane must give up Claudio. Christine follows her heart. Count Steinfeld no longer feels at home at Guldenburg and seeks comfort with the Krögers and his granddaughter Tina.

Nane returns from Brazil. She has chosen Guldenburg over Claudio. When she visits her daughter Tina, she runs into Tobias. Jan sees one desperate way out and decides to settle his scores first. Armed with Margot’s revolver, he goes to Carina de Angeli. At a fashion party at the Bernards’ home, the sibling conflict reaches its climax. Achim understands how desperate Jan is and convinces him that murder would be pointless. The police take Jan away. Kitty becomes the new head of the Balbeck company. Christine and Hannes von Meerungen are preparing to leave Guldenburg Castle when Nane brings about an unexpected turn of events.