Paolo and Ignazio escape to Palermo, where they lay the foundations for the future Florio empire.

Vincenzo leaves his adolescence behind and prepares to run the Florio empire.

Meeting Giulia turns Vincenzo's convictions upside down and shakes all his beliefs.

Vincenzo must choose between his love for Giulia and the prestige of the Florio family.

As Palermo is ravaged by cholera, Giulia escapes to the new villa at the tuna processing plant with her daughters and mother-in-law. Meanwhile, Vincenzo risks catching the disease to take care of business. The epidemic hurts his finances but also gives him the idea to create an independent fleet in the Mediterranean. He can't do it alone, however. He needs the backing of Palermo's aristocracy, and dinner at Palazzo Florio gives Vincenzo and Giulia the chance to obtain support.

When Palermo rises against the Kingdom of Naples' central power, Vincenzo has to protect his family. Thanks to Giulia's intervention, he begrudgingly accepts a proposal by rebel leader Giuseppe La Masa. However, he knows that the pact is a double-edged sword. When the rebels flee to avoid arrest and execution, Vincenzo is forced to accept the consequences before the king to save the Florio family.

Vincenzo wants the best for his daughters, and Vincenzo always gets what he wants. When Angela receives a marriage proposal from the son of a shipowner, he refuses to give his approval, preferring a noble match for Angela. However, Palermo has not forgotten the circumstances of her birth, and it is up to Giulia and Ignazio to defend her. Ignazio renounces his future happiness for his sister's current happiness and makes a promise that will haunt him when he meets Camille.

Vincenzo Florio is one of the richest, most powerful men in Sicily. He has been through uprisings, revolutions, and is about to see Italy united. His secret has always been his ability to look ahead, to assure himself a place alongside the victors. It is now up to Ignazio to invest in the future. He must marry an aristocrat and give up Camille. However, Ignazio is nothing like his father. He must decide whether to chase happiness or be the worthy heir to the Florio family.