Jazmín Palacios was kidnapped by Remigio Fuentes Mansilla, a landowning politician who kept her as a slave in a human trafficking ring run by himself and perfected by his wife Isabel Fuentes Mancilla. During her kidnapping, Jazmín was raped by Remigio and he tried to kill her and her baby. 12 years later, Jazmín returns to the Fuentes Mansilla ranch to make Fernando, Remigio's son, fall in love with her and take revenge on the man who destroyed her life. What Jazmin does not imagine is that fate will lead her to meet her true love, Santiago, a farmhand posing as an undercover policeman.[3]
On 23 January 2024, TV Azteca announced La cautiva at the Content Americas event, marking the company's return to the production of telenovelas.[6] On 15 May 2024, Litzy, Osvaldo de León, Daniela Castro and Plutarco Haza were announced in the main roles.[2] On 31 May 2024, it was announced that the title of the telenovela had changed to Cautiva por amor.[4] Filming began on 19 June 2024.[1][7]