Unable to sleep on her last night in Naples, Elena wanders the streets of the neighborhood, lost in thought. She wonders what her life would have been like had she been born into privilege rather than poverty. She wonders if she truly was in the wrong with the situation with Lila, in using the power of the Airotas to help only her friend and not the rest of the workers. Frustrated by her musings, Elena resolves to never lift a finger for anyone again.

The night before their wedding, Elena tells Pietro that she plans to go on birth control so that she can write another novel before having children. To her surprise, Pietro opposes her. They fight and are cold to each other the day of the ceremony. Elena discovers that Adele has organized a surprise reception following the ceremony. At first Elena is frustrated that Adele invited her own friends but not Elena’s, but Elena’s mood improves once Adele’s friends admire her. Pietro and Elena have sex for the first time on their wedding night, an unpleasurable experience for Elena as Pietro struggles to achieve orgasm. Afterwards, Pietro disappears to work in his study and does not join Elena in bed.