Fern receives a heartfelt letter from Edwin, who expresses missing her and the kids but explains only three people can move due to limited resources. He urges Fern to be considerate toward Vera, a widow he trusted him to protect. Despite Edwin's promise to send money, Fern finds the allowance missing from the envelope. Over the following months, Edwin sends love letters but no financial support, citing restrictions from authorities. As famine devastates their village, thugs seize Fern's home, leaving her family homeless and starving. Determined to survive, Fern decides to sell her blood to buy food, refusing to part with a watch given by Edwin.