During the Christmas season, Roman visits Emilia at the convent. Emilia feels shocked by his physical and emotional scars from the war. She gives him a brief kiss but explains that she has fundamentally changed and now seeks peace rather than continued conflict, effectively ending their romantic relationship. She reveals her plan for Truda and Mateusz to raise her baby as their own child.

Roman reacts angrily to this news, calling the child an “abomination” that should be sent away. Emilia declares that he must accept the baby to remain part of her family. After a subdued Christmas celebration without Roman present, Emilia goes into labor on New Year’s Eve. Truda stays with her throughout the birth, and when the baby boy arrives, Emilia insists that Truda hold him first as his new mother.

During May and June 1946, as Poland prepares for the people’s referendum—a vote designed to legitimize the pro-communist government—Mateusz receives a grant to start a textiles business and makes Roman his right-hand man. However, Roman feels alienated by his family’s acceptance of the baby, Anatol. Roman avoids spending time with them and instead joins an underground AK group, committing acts of sabotage against the communist authorities.

Roman argues with Mateusz that the war is not over, dismissing the upcoming referendum as rigged. Mateusz counters that they must focus on rebuilding their lives and achieving peace rather than continuing violent conflict.

During the summer, as Anatol experiences his first few months of life, Emilia navigates her complex feelings toward the baby. She finds joy in watching her adoptive parents’ love for him but struggles with the emotional toll of breastfeeding. When left alone with Anatol briefly, she reluctantly comforts the crying baby, telling him not to be like them. 

Mateusz expresses his growing concern that Roman’s obsession with the resistance will get him killed. Emilia agrees with this assessment and, feeling hopeful about her future, tells Mateusz that she plans to find a creative job once Anatol is older.

Two days before the referendum, Roman works in the abandoned storefront that serves as his office when four plainclothes UB officers—members of the Polish Communist Secret Service—enter the building. Realizing that they have come for him, Roman understands that Emilia was right to end their relationship to protect her family. He offers to surrender peacefully in hopes of shielding Mateusz from harm.

However, the officers violently seize Roman, dislocating his shoulder in the process. As he is dragged away, Roman hears Mateusz being beaten by the secret police. From the police car, he watches two officers continue to assault Mateusz, fulfilling Truda’s earlier warning that his actions would bring harm to his loved ones.

Just after the referendum, which shows 70% support for the communist-backed government, the family gathers to discuss Roman’s imprisonment in Mokotów Prison. Mateusz, still bruised from his beating, reports that the bribe required to free Roman is unaffordable. Truda and Sara argue against paying the bribe, but Emilia insists that they must save him despite the cost.

The next morning, Mateusz rushes home with news that the prison guards have broken Roman’s legs. Retrieving hidden money from a suitcase, he decides to use the business loan intended for the textiles factory to pay the bribe. He admits to Emilia that he couldn’t bear her disappointment if they failed to save Roman. Emilia embraces him and calls him “Tato” (“Dad”) with true feeling for the first time.

Roman awakens in a hospital ward with both legs in plaster casts and finds Emilia at his bedside. She informs him that the referendum went in favor of the Soviet proxy regime and that Mateusz used the factory money to secure his release. Overcome with guilt at the sacrifice made for him, Roman vows to repay Mateusz for his generosity.

Emilia, referencing her old drawing about fighting, urges Roman to find a non-violent path forward, arguing that violence has failed to achieve their goals. Realizing her strength and wisdom, Roman questions his interpretation of his friend Chaim’s dying wish and admits that he doesn’t know another way to live besides fighting. Emilia takes his hand and promises they will figure out a peaceful path together.

After months in the hospital, Roman moves into Sara’s apartment and uses a wheelchair. Emilia secures a receptionist job and visits him daily, deepening their relationship during his recovery. Roman tells her that he plans to fight peacefully through politics and pursue a law degree, representing his commitment to the non-violent path that Emilia advocated.

Roman asks Emilia to host a lunch to thank her family and finally meet Anatol properly. At the meal, Roman apologizes to Truda for the harm that his resistance activities brought to the family. Later, he accepts Anatol as Emilia’s brother, recognizing the child’s place in their family structure. When Emilia casually mentions her and Roman’s future children in conversation, Roman promises to marry her after he repays Mateusz and earns his law degree.

Roman starts working as a clerk for a lawyer while beginning his law-school studies. Sara informs him that his long-lost sister, Eleonora, has been found in an orphanage in Częstochowa. Roman and Emilia travel there to meet the frail five-year-old girl, who has lost her adoptive family in the war.

To present a stable front to Sister Irena, Roman spontaneously claims that he and Emilia are engaged. Emilia plays along with the deception, coaxing a response from the silent girl with a piece of candy. Watching Emilia interact with his sister, Roman resolves that his first duty is to rebuild a family for Eleonora, Emilia, and himself. He sits with them and promises his sister that he will never leave her again.