The flashback reveals a young, impoverished Cora working as a miller's daughter. After being humiliated by Princess Eva (Snow White's mother), Cora lies to King Xavier, claiming she can spin straw into gold.
Locked in a tower to prove her claim or face death, she is visited by . He offers to spin the gold in exchange for her firstborn child. However, Cora convinces him to teach her the magic instead. As they work together, they fall in love and plan to run away, changing their contract so the child will be theirs .
At the last moment, Cora realizes that love is a weakness that will keep her from power. She rips out her own heart to remain cold and calculating, choosing to marry Prince Henry and become royalty rather than flee with Rumplestiltskin.