Atlanta, Georgia, 1873: Scarlett O'Hara attends the funeral of Melanie Wilkes, her late sister-in-law and rival for Ashley Wilkes' affection, at which her estranged husband Rhett Butler is absent. Heartbroken that he left her, sets out for Tara and is saddened when she learns that Mammy, her mainstay nurse since birth, is dying. When she arrives, she sends a telegram to notify Rhett about Mammy under the guise of Will Benteen (her sister Suellen's husband), because she knows that he won't come if he knows she's there. Mammy makes Rhett swear to look after 'her lamb', Miss Scarlett. He agrees, despite having no intention of honoring the request. After Mammy dies, he and Scarlett have another hostile encounter, which culminates in his departure and her returning to the Atlanta house, determined to win him back.

Scarlett travels to Charleston to visit Rhett's family and tries to corner him by winning his mother's affection. She convinces Rhett to take her for a sail on the harbor, where their boat capsizes during a terrible storm. Scarlett and Rhett swim to an island, where they make love in a cave. Rhett initially denies, then admits, that he loves Scarlett, but he does not want to lose himself over her again. Back in Charleston, Rhett leaves Scarlett near death at his mother's house, telling her, in a letter, that while he admires her bravery, he will never see her again. After Scarlett regains her strength, she leaves Charleston with her two aunts, Pauline and Eulalie, to attend her maternal grandfather's birthday in Savannah. She leaves a note to Rhett's mother with Rhett's sister Rosemary, who burns the note.

Scarlett connects with the O'Hara clan in Savannah, where she learns that her grandfather has offered Scarlett his inheritance only if she remains with him until his death and cuts ties with her father's family. Scarlett refuses and agrees to join cousin Colum to Ireland. By this time, Scarlett realizes that she is pregnant with Rhett's child but keeps this hidden. In Ireland, Scarlett is heartily welcomed by her kin. She soon receives a notification of divorce from Rhett. She makes plans to leave for America but learns that Rhett is now married to Anne Hampton, said to resemble Melanie. Heartbroken, Scarlett decides to remain in Ireland. She works alongside lawyers and leaves her two-third share of Tara to her son Wade (fathered by her first husband, Charles Hamilton, brother of Melanie), buys Ballyhara and settles down in Ireland, to her family's delight. She and Colum tell everyone that her husband died rather than that she was divorced.

Scarlett keeps her daughter's birth a secret from Rhett to spite him, thinking that if Cat grows up not knowing her father she will, unlike Bonnie, not love him. The day that Rhett finally does meet his daughter, he will realize that she does not love him or even know him, thus giving Scarlett her revenge. Anne Hampton-Butler also travels to Ireland with Rhett and has a lengthy conversation with Scarlett, but soon dies from yellow fever. Meanwhile, Lord Richard Fenton, one of the wealthiest men in Europe, pursues Scarlett with the intent of marriage. One night, Fenton assaults his servant Mary, who kills him in retaliation, but Scarlett is accused. When Scarlett is put on trial, Rhett comes to her defense, after having learned about his daughter Katie.