At her book presentation in Milan, Elena unexpectedly meets Nino. At dinner she realises her infatuation for him has never abandoned her and begins to have doubts on her fiancé Pietro.

Pietro is in Naples to meet his future in-laws. Elena is very nervous, but her betrothed and the Greco family get along well. Her mother complains and tries to get Elena to change her mind about the civil ceremony. Lila sends for Elena.

Lila's health is getting worse; her job at the Soccavo plant is burning her out. Elena asks her in-laws to help out; they encourage her to write an exposé to the papers, which ends up stirring up tensions in the unions.

Elena and Lila face difficulties obtaining prescriptions for the contraceptive pill. Adele surprises Elena with an unexpected reception on her wedding day.

Elena embraces the feminist cause and has a disagreement with Pietro about it. Pasquale and Nadia arrive unexpectedly at Elena's home in Florence. They are dirty, rude, and neglected. Pasquale relates to Pietro with hostility. After their departure Pietro and Elena quarrel: he doesn't want something like that to happen again.

On holiday, little Gennaro often quarrels with Elena's daughters, she remains tolerant until she catches them playing doctor. In a phone call with Lila, Elena learns that her sister Elisa is dating Marcello Solara. Baffled, she travels to Naples to discuss the matter with her in person.

Elena's marriage is more and more in crisis, Pietro is distant and she feels treated like a servant. One day, Nino Sarratore shows up at the Airota's door. He and Pietro become friends and say goodbye with the promise to meet again. Elena anxiously awaits their next meeting and finally resumes writing.

Elena and Pietro meet Nino's family. Nino gives Elena his feedback on the manuscript, when he discovers that Pietro has not read it he shows hostility towards her, but in a veiled and underhanded way. Pietro's reaction to Nino's passive-aggressive attacks only confirms Elena's doubts about her husband.