Mr. Gayton refuses to marry again, insisting he only wants to care for his adopted son Gary, who is weak and sickly. Despite elders’ pressure and offers of rare healing pills, he rejects marriage proposals. Jul, seen as an ideal wife, and others attempt to convince him for Gary's sake, but he stands firm, even rejecting escalating bribes threatening to abandon the family. After Gary shows attachment to a woman caring for him, Mr. Gayton finally agrees to negotiate under one unnamed condition, leaving the outcome uncertain and the tension unresolved.