Infant abandoned at Vatican orphanage. At 18 decides to leave instead of becoming a nun. Meets Felice owner of a cafe in Rome. He "adopts" her. Her life with her papa is loving, exciting and rewarding. Vincenzo, a scheming young man and an alcoholic enters the picture. He cons her to giving him her money and coerces her to come to America where he and his brothers open a now famous restaurant. Aboard the ship, Vincenzo rapes her. She becomes pregnant. As the story progresses, she becomes angry, despondent. She loathes him. Vincenzo dies in a fall. Vincenzo's brothers evict her and her son from their home. Clelia is reduced to poverty in an arranged marriage. She is a changed person. Her hatred and despondency is written on her face. The remainder of her life is in misery, deep depression and alienation.