In the opening scene of Episode 3 of The House of the Spirits, Clara and Esteban arrive at their newly acquired mansion, a grand estate that Esteban has acquired as a symbol of their new life together. Ferula, the loyal servant, greets them with enthusiasm, eager to hear about their honeymoon adventures. Esteban, eager to showcase his new home, leads Clara through the lavish rooms, and her eyes light up as she takes in the grandeur of the place, particularly one of the exquisite trunks he has brought.
However, her joy is short-lived when she discovers that Esteban has skinned her beloved pet dog. The shock and horror cause her to faint. When she regains consciousness, she tells Esteban that she is pregnant and that they will name their daughter Blanca. Esteban, who had hoped for a son to carry on his name, is slightly disappointed but accepts the news with grace.
As the months pass, Clara struggles with the pregnancy, and Ferula becomes concerned that she might be slipping into a world of her own imagination. Clara tries to connect with her unborn child, whispering words of love and encouragement to come into the world.
Meanwhile, Clara's parents make the journey to visit her before the birth but tragically lose their lives in an accident. Esteban, out of concern for Clara's fragile state, decides not to tell her about their passing. However, Clara senses something amiss and insists on going to the scene of the accident to find her mother's head. Ferula and the driver accompany her, and once she discovers the head, Clara goes into labour.
They return to the house, but Esteban is running late with the doctor. Ferula steps in and helps Clara deliver her daughter. During this time, Clara journeys to the realm of spirits where she sees her mother holding her child. She thanks Clara for finding her head and assures her that they will always be by her side.
Over the next few years, Blanca grows into a delightful child loved by everyone in the household. In the summer, Esteban takes the family to Hacienda Las Tres Marías for the first time. Pancha, the matriarch of the estate, is hurt and forces her son to help the family settle in. Of course, Esteban ignores his son's needs and focuses solely on making his new family feel at home.
Clara encounters Pedro and their children, who share the same age, and discovers that they all get along quite well. Upon seeing the Hacienda for the first time, Clara feels a surge of happiness, and that very night, she shares an intimate moment with her husband. Ferula observes this and later confides in the priest about her feelings for Clara. The priest reprimands her, warning her against succumbing to the lure of her emotions.
The following day, Esteban and Clara embark on a horseback ride as he guides her through the ranch. Clara suddenly feels nauseous and wonders if she might be pregnant again. She also feels as if the birds and the river are trying to communicate with her.
One day, Clara stumbles upon Pancha in her bedroom, who is there to deliver new curtains. Pancha shares her story about her son, expressing how unfair it is that his needs are ignored while Clara's daughter is pampered.
Clara returns to the forest and finally comprehends the message the place was trying to convey. She sees a vision of Esteban raping Pancha near the riverbed and understands Pancha's anguish.
She returns home, tears streaming down her face, and Ferula urges her not to dwell on the past. She reassures Clara that Esteban adores her. However, Clara struggles to overlook Pancha's pain and doesn't want her son to grow up to be a selfish man.
She strives to apologize to Pancha, yet the other women in the town whom Esteban has raped dismiss her efforts as futile. After all, they are powerless against him; he wields all the authority. From that fateful day forward, Clara refrains from sharing the same bed with Esteban. Determined to aid the other women, she decides to establish a school, though Pancha's son never enrols.
Throughout this period, Clara also attempts to speak with the women about empowerment, but they remain unconvinced. As summer nears its conclusion, Clara and her family return to the grand house in the town, now that she is pregnant. She persistently distances herself from Esteban, and he finally snaps when she insists on naming their unborn son Jaime. He smashes his fist against the chair, but she stands firm. Ferula rushes in to check on Clara, and Esteban storms out in a rage.
Esteban heads to the local brothel, where he reunites with Santito. They engage in sexual activity, and she shares her dreams of uniting the queers and other sex workers into a cooperative. Esteban offers to assist her, but she rejects him. That night, a quake strikes, and Ferula rushes to Clara's room to ensure her safety. Clara invites her to share the bed, and Ferula is both moved and terrified. She thanks Clara for saving her life and falls asleep beside her.
When Esteban returns from the brothel, he loses his sanity upon seeing Ferula and Clara sharing a bed. He becomes enraged and drags Ferula outside, locking the room behind them. Ferula tries to explain that nothing happened, but Esteban kicks her out and threatens to kill her if she returns. She curses him to die alone like a shrivelled dog.
By the time Clara manages to unlock the bedroom door, Ferula is already gone. She calls out to her and follows her outside, but never sees her again. A few years later, Clara attempts to use her divination powers to locate Ferula. Unfortunately, she is unable to do so, plunging her deeper into the spirit world. It is said that she never saw Ferula again, and that broke something inside her forever.
