Lenu and Lila continue their lives in different path: Lila works in the shoe store and Elena returns to school.

Antonio is mad as Lenu for trying to stop his draft to the army. Stefano hits Lila and opens his heart to Lenu. Lila is mad at Lenu for trying to reconcile Stefano and her.

Lila invests her energy into the grocery store, even on the expense of her health - But she refuses to have her photo in the shoe store. Elena is invited to a party at her teacher's home and Lila wants to join her.

On Lila's request, Lenu joins her and Pinuccia at Ischia for the summer. They meet Nino Sarratore, and both are attracted to him.

Elena enjoys her life as a student in Pisa. When she is sick she reads the notebooks Lila gave her during her visit to Naples, and learns what Lila has gone through during the years.

Elena graduates university, meets a man from a nice family and returns to Naples. When she returns home she is told that Lila left home with her son. While in Pisa Elena wrote a novel based on her life.