the empress episode 1 who is the mother watching

Paisley Jenkins, a war correspondent, gave up her career to become a housewife after getting married and having a child. Ten years later, her husband, Lucas, gifts Paisley’s late mother’s camera to his "little sister," Sophia. Paisley discovers Lucas and Sophia’s ambiguous relationship, and their daughter, Anna, idolizes Sophia. Heartbroken, Paisley applies to return to the warzone. Her news director warns her, "War correspondents must stay until the conflict ends"—implying she might not come back alive. Paisley files for divorce, but Lucas dismisses it.

Wyomia Quinn, the eldest daughter of the Quinn family, accidentally had a one-night stand with Julian Yates, the CEO of the Yates Group. Later, she was pregnant but had an accident that made her lose her memory. She spent six years abroad before coming back. Upon returning, Wyomia wanted her mother Maeva Sanum's ashes placed in the Quinn family's grave, but her father and stepmother demanded she secure a billion-dollar contract from the Yates family first. After reuniting with Julian, the two were riddled with misunderstandings. With the help of their adorable daughter, Sheila Yates, they gradually found their way back to each other.

Modern-day fashion designer Tania Winston is at the peak of her career—until a freak accident at the Paris Fashion Awards lands her in 1980s Florinth, trapped in the life of a notorious "evil wife" married to stern factory director Hermes Lorenz. Suddenly mother to a timid son and enemy to the entire village, Tania must survive in an unfamiliar era while cleaning up the mess left behind by her predecessor.As Tania mends torn relationships—and designs—she disarms her icy husband, reclaims her son's trust, and outmaneuvers rival Sherry's decades-long scheme to steal her life. Sometimes the harshest punishment becomes an unexpected redemption.

Lydia Nott's mother-in-law falls gravely ill, but Ian Hart, mistakenly thinking the ambulance is for Lydia's ex-boyfriend, blocks its path. At the hospital, he refuses to donate blood and even destroys the blood source needed for the rescue. Despite Lydia's efforts to find help, her mother-in-law dies. Ian skips the memorial to attend Ivy Scott's birthday, only to learn the truth too late. When he tries to expel Lydia from the Hart family, he discovers she's the rightful heir. Stricken with guilt over his mother's death, he is left to face the consequences of his actions.

In her past life, Monica Woodard is the eldest daughter of the Woodard family, Lexford City's most prominent household. Lost due to her mother's mistake, she grows up in an orphanage until her biological father finds her. Desperate to win the love of her parents and two brothers,Monica endures countless provocations and schemes from the adopted daughter, Alyvia Woodard. Rather than earning her family's affection, her patience only allows Alyvia to poison their relationships further. The family, prioritizing the adopted daughter's feelings, neglects and scorns their biological daughter. Ultimately,through Alyvia's machinations, Monica dies tragically.

On the day of Valeria Castle's engagement, her mother, Marilyn Castle, arrives at the banquet disguised as a cleaner, only to face humiliation from the Hardy family. A wealthy woman fights her over a parking spot, her future mother-in-law enforces strict household rules, and her fiancé demands an outrageous betrothal gift. But Marilyn soon reveals her true identity. Wayne Cuddy, Aaron Shaw, and Basil Brady step in with a billion-dollar dowry, instantly turning the tide. From that moment on, she proves her strength time and again, expertly resolving the crisis at Price Corp. In the end, as foreign capital threatens their empire, she takes Valeria abroad—ready for the next battle.

Eight years ago, Anna Lane, a D-list actress, married Caleb Scott, CEO of Scott Group, to fulfill her grandfather's wish. After unexpectedly becoming pregnant, she filed for divorce. Six years later, the Scott family discovers that her daughter, Nancy, is actually Caleb's child and begins searching for them. While Anna faces mistreatment on a film set, Caleb arrives to rescue them but doesn't recognize his daughter. At a banquet, Caleb's mother reveals Nancy's identity, and the truth comes out: Anna is Caleb's ex-wife. Caleb confesses his love, and they remarry, welcoming twins and achieving both love and career success.

Lottie Garner faces a forced marriage to the Ford family's son, an overweight playboy with STDs, to pave the way for her stepsister Nikki Garner's marriage alliance with the Weber family, the wealthiest in the capital. To escape this fate and exact revenge on Nikki and her mother, Lottie decides to seduce Nikki's fiance, Zaxton Weber. They begin a clandestine affair. At Nikki's engagement celebration, Lottie arrives exquisitely dressed, her striking figure capturing everyone's attention, including Zaxton's. The pair share an intimate moment in the stairwell during the party. Meanwhile, an increasingly anxious Nikki searches for them, heading toward the stairwell where a dramatic confrontation is about to unfold.

Twenty-three years ago, Jane Potter swapped her newborn daughter for a baby boy to secure her place in the wealthy Stark family. She branded a family emblem on her daughter's shoulder, hoping they would reunite one day. Now, that boy—Matt Stark—has inherited the Stark empire, while the rightful heiress, Willow Kent, has struggled to survive. Desperate to save her ailing adoptive mother, she works at a nightclub, where fate takes an unexpected turn. She mistakes Matt for a criminal and unintentionally leaves him injured. From that moment, their lives become intertwined in ways neither could have imagined.

Twenty years ago, Quilla saved Yosef and his family by chance.The two fell in love over time, and she chose to stay with Yosef, raising his three children as her own. Twenty years later,the ex-wife Mary reappears. Emotionally, the three children lean more toward their birth mother, so the family decides to drive away Quilla, the only "outsider".Heartbroken, she cuts ties with them for good.Meanwhile, the Grant family's business begins to decline,and Mary proves to be nothing but a gold-digger.They finally remember Quilla's kindness and try to win her back, but her heart is already dead, and she starts a new life.

Paul Smith, CEO of Horizon Group, had it all—until his own adopted children and former college friend Lewis stabbed him in the back.Forced into bankruptcy, he watched his empire crumble while grappling with his mother's failing health and furious employees demanding back pay. Just when all seemed lost, Dylan Walker stepped in, offering him a lifeline at his own firm.At the Tech Chip Competition, Paul staged a stunning comeback,leading his team to victory and landing a game-changing deal. Meanwhile,justice caught up with Lewis and his co-conspirators—their schemes finally earning them a one-way ticket to prison.

On the day of Valeria Castle's engagement, her mother, Marilyn Castle, arrives at the banquet disguised as a cleaner, only to face humiliation from the Hardy family. A wealthy woman fights her over a parking spot, her future mother-in-law enforces strict household rules, and her fiancé demands an outrageous betrothal gift. But Marilyn soon reveals her true identity. Wayne Cuddy, Aaron Shaw, and Basil Brady step in with a billion-dollar dowry, instantly turning the tide. From that moment on, she proves her strength time and again, expertly resolving the crisis at Price Corp. In the end, as foreign capital threatens their empire, she takes Valeria abroad—ready for the next battle.

Eight years ago, Anna Lane, a D-list actress, married Caleb Scott, CEO of Scott Group, to fulfill her grandfather's wish. After unexpectedly becoming pregnant, she filed for divorce. Six years later, the Scott family discovers that her daughter, Nancy, is actually Caleb's child and begins searching for them.While Anna faces mistreatment on a film set, Caleb arrives to rescue them but doesn't recognize his daughter. At a banquet, Caleb's mother reveals Nancy's identity, and the truth comes out: Anna is Caleb's ex-wife. Caleb confesses his love, and they remarry, welcoming twins and achieving both love and career success.

Recently graduated April Simons is drugged and harassed by two men, only to be dramatically rescued by Reuben Hamilton, heir to the Hamilton Group corporate empire. In a moment of compromised consciousness, they become intimately involved. Reuben leaves his business card, which April unknowingly misses, losing their connection. Seven years later, April has given birth to twins and is cast out by her family. Simultaneously, Reuben's mother desperately seeks to arrange a marriage for her son. April's jealous cousin deliberately orchestrates a confrontation at the Hamilton family home, publicly exposing April's past. Just as April faces humiliation, Reuben arrives, setting the stage for their unexpected reunion.

Fiona Shaw, once a privileged heiress, fell from grace three years ago when her family's business collapsed. Burdened with a staggering five-hundred-million debt, she was forced to accept the Sterling family's arrangement—an arranged marriage with their second son, Henry. Yet the union was nothing but a façade. Henry, a closeted man deeply in love with his loyal secretary Louis, had no affection for Fiona and abandoned her after their wedding night. His only reason for marrying her was to appease his mother, Elizabeth, and to secure an heir quickly—ensuring his claim to the family's vast fortune and strengthening his position against his half-brother, Jeff.

When Evelyn was five, her mother died tragically, leaving her alone in a distant village. Many years passed, and now she finds herself back in the city, poised to marry Athoria's wealthiest man, Graham Britton, as a replacement for another. While Graham is rumored to have a cold-blooded nature and fiery temper, Evelyn is taken aback by the handsome figure he cuts as she stands before him. When Graham assumes Evelyn is playing hard to get, she swiftly proves him wrong, and when he belittles her as just a village girl, she reveals herself as a skilled practitioner of medicine, design, piano, and technology. It's only then that Graham realizes he's married a true gem.

Paul Smith, CEO of Horizon Group, had it all—until his own adopted children and former college friend Lewis stabbed him in the back. Forced into bankruptcy, he watched his empire crumble while grappling with his mother's failing health and furious employees demanding back pay. Just when all seemed lost, Dylan Walker stepped in, offering him a lifeline at his own firm. At the Tech Chip Competition, Paul staged a stunning comeback, leading his team to victory and landing a game-changing deal. Meanwhile, justice caught up with Lewis and his co-conspirators—their schemes finally earning them a one-way ticket to prison.

Ada Walton has saved Sid Cissie's life once, but Gail Rob stole the credit and ran away after she caused Ada's father's death in a car accident. Three years later, Ada happens to find out about the affair between her best friend, Poppy Lee, and her fiancé, Reg Wagner. Under Reg's grandfather's will, he won't get his family inheritance unless he marries Ada. To pay off her mother's mounting medical expenses in the hospital, Ada forces herself to enter into a contractual romance with Sid. Soon, things become uncontrollable...