The story takes place in a poor and run-down community in Naples, Italy, where Lila (Ludovica Nasti) and Elena (Elisa del Genio) have lived since childhood. Lila was born in an authoritarian family and her father is a shoemaker. Although Lila is a recognized genius girl in the class, under the insistence of her father, Lila finally gave up her studies and became a helper in the shoe store. Unlike Lila, Elena continued to study with the support of her family and teachers. Although she and Lila took a completely different path in life, Elena's eyes were always on Lila. At the age of sixteen, Lila married Stefano (Giovanni Amura), a rich boy who pursued her hard, but what was waiting for her was not a happy marriage life.