The Sweetest Oblivion

Elena finds Adriana packing in her room. She is in love with their gardener Ryan and doesn’t want to marry Nicolas. Elena takes her things out of her suitcase as she puts them in, insisting she can’t run away because it’ll only make things worse. Adriana reveals that Ryan broke up with her.

On her way back downstairs, Elena runs into Nicolas in the hall. He teases her, calling her by her nickname “Sweet Abelli.” She doubts he understands the name’s meaning. As she moves away from him, she wonders how many people he’s killed.

The Abelli and Russo families gather on the patio for lunch. Elena studies the guests, wondering about their relationships with each other. Meanwhile, she plays the part of the polite hostess. Then Elena’s uncle asks her about her upcoming dance recital; she admits she isn’t good but enjoys the hobby. Then an argument breaks out and Nicolas’s cousin Stefan holds a gun to Elena’s head. He threatens to kill her to avenge Piero’s death—a family member whom Elena’s brother Tony killed. Furious at Stefan, Nicolas shoots and kills him. Blood spatters onto Elena’s white dress. Salvatore demands she sit and eat her dessert like everyone else. She feels Stefan’s lifeless legs under the table.

Nico berates himself for losing his temper. He lost a bet to his cousins, who guessed they wouldn’t get out of the Abellis’ without an altercation. Studying the patio scene, he reflects on his tumultuous childhood with his violent late father. Antonio physically assaulted Nico and his late mother Caterina Russo, but Nico held it against Caterina for not fighting back. She was a person with a drug addiction and often struggled to care for Nico. She did teach Nico “to respect women” (22), but Nico never took her lessons to heart. He wonders if he killed Stefan because he was threatening Elena. He’s heard about Elena’s beauty but hasn’t met her in person until now. Now he wonders if Salvatore was playing him by marrying him to Adriana instead of Elena. At the same time, he doesn’t want a wife whom other men want to sleep with.

After lunch, Salvatore agrees to let Nico beat up Tony for killing Piero. He takes him aside and hits him until he’s bloody. He knows he could start a war over Tony’s crime but decides against it.

Elena takes a shower after lunch. Stefan’s murder triggers memories from six months ago. After the shower, she runs into Nicolas in the hallway. Then she sees an unwell-looking Tony pass. Elena races to his side, discovering that Nicolas shot him through the hand. She demands that Salvatore get him help, fearing he won’t take him to the hospital.

Elena worries about Tony the rest of the night. She feels angry with Nicolas, too. In the morning, she’s watching television when Nicolas resurfaces at the house. He stands behind her and wraps her ponytail around his hand until Celia enters.

Afterwards, Nicolas joins the family for breakfast. Elena tries to ignore him and asks Salvatore if she can attend her dance friend’s upcoming party. He agrees to let her go if Benito accompanies her. She wonders if he’s finally forgiven her for the incident six months ago.

The next day, Elena and Adriana hang out together. They take a swim and discuss Adriana’s situation. Suddenly Ryan appears. Elena warns Adriana not to see him, but Adriana doesn’t listen. Nicolas shows up shortly thereafter. Elena gets out of the pool and greets him in a white bikini, blocking his way so he can’t enter the house without Salvatore home. While they argue, Elena feels heat between them. Finally he gives her the folder he was bringing for Salvatore. Before leaving, he reminds Elena to call him Nico, not Nicolas. Elena takes the folder into Salvatore’s office and searches for his bank account numbers. She hopes one day he’ll slip up and forget to lock the information in his safe.

Elena finds Adriana painting in her room. Since Ryan’s visit, she’s been spending time alone. Adriana insists she has no interest in marrying Nicolas. Celia appears and demands that Elena calm Nicolas down. They have guests over and he seems upset. Elena reluctantly joins the gathering. Oscar Perez confronts her and starts touching her aggressively. Elena tries to stay calm, embodying the Sweet Abelli. Meanwhile, she realizes that Nicolas is the only person she doesn’t have to be the Sweet Abelli around because they’re not getting married. Nicolas sees Oscar with Elena and interjects. The two step aside for a smoke. They study the stars and talk. Nicolas pulls Elena to him and she feels his warmth. Before parting, he asks her to write a list of Adriana’s favorite and least favorite things for him.

Nico reflects on his recent interactions with Elena. He now understands why everyone is attracted to her. He can’t stop thinking about her in her bathing suit. He keeps looking at her over dinner, too, although he’s seated near Adriana. The two start a questions game so they can get to know each other. Then Nico asks Adriana about Oscar, who’s bothering Elena again. Adriana says his behavior is typical but Elena isn’t interested because she’s in love with someone else. Nico feels suddenly furious.

Elena dismisses herself from the gathering to read in the library. Her mind races through thoughts of Nicolas, Oscar, and the Sweet Abelli. Nicolas’s appearance interrupts her. They sit together without talking; Elena feels tension between them. Before leaving, Nicolas warns her about Oscar. Afterwards, Elena tries to calm her racing heart.

Elena and Adriana watch a movie in bed together later. They talk about Nicolas, who Elena admits isn’t as hateable as she thought. Adriana then asks Elena to help her send a goodbye text to Ryan.

The next day, Benito escorts Elena to her dance practice. Her fellow dancer Tyler begs her to go on a date several times, making overt comments about her appearance. Elena declines.