Over two decades ago, Emma left Russia to follow Tancredi Recchi, the man who had proposed to her. Now a member of a powerful industrial Milanese family, she is the respected mother of three: two sons, Edoardo who is engaged to Eva and Gianluca that are businessmen and their lesbian daughter Elisabetta that lives in Nice. Emma, although not unhappy, feels confusedly unfulfilled. One day Edoardo becomes partner in a restaurant with Antonio, a talented chef and Edoardo's friend and Emma has a love affair with him. It does not take long before she embarks on a passionate affair with the sensuous young man. When Edoardo discovers the affair of his mother there is a tragedy that will affect the Recchi family.