After Nino's appearance in Milan and a scathing review, Elena questions her feelings for her fiancé Pietro and her skills as a writer. Elena's future mother-in-law, Adele, is very impressed by Nino and invites him to have dinner with them.
Enzo and Pasquale, Elena's childhood friends get her in the middle of the night to go to Lila who's sick in bed. Lila tells her how she reached that state.
Elena decides she's going to help Lila and takes her to doctors. Elena start writing in the newspaper about the rough state of the laborers. Lila decides to return to the neighborhood though it is a call for trouble.
Elena and Pietro's relationship continue to deteriorate. Pasquale and Nadia come to visit Elena at Florence. Lila sends her son Gennaro to spend the summer with Elena and her family.
Elena visits Naples and to her dismay finds out her family is in attached to the Solaras. Pietro meets Elena's Naples acquaintances. Lila works for Michele Solara.
Nino stays at Elena and Pietro's home. While Elena and Pietro grow farther apart, Elena and Nino get closer together. Elena publishes a new book. Lila gives Elena bad news from the neighborhood.
