At home relatives force Hailey to swap places in a Ward marriage after the Wards' wedding gift and Nathan's illness are revealed. Relatives argue and plot to profit; Molly's dream that Nathan will die tonight raises the stakes. They pressure Hailey to marry Joseph, described as lazy but possibly rich later. Hailey resists, fearing reputation loss, yet she finally accepts the swap on one condition: the Ward wedding gifts and the house will be hers. She ejects everyone from the room, leaving the family stunned and Nathan's possible death tonight unresolved.