The story revolves around the death of a fat man named Mr. Robert, who leaves behind two women and two children. His death causes a legal battle over his wealth as both women and children claim their share. One of the main themes of the story is the cracks in the connections among the family members, which were present indeed before Mr. Robert's death.
As the story unfolds, we learn that Mr. Robert was a veritably successful businessman who had married two women, one of whom he'd intimately married without the knowledge of the other. The two women were ignorant of each other's actuality until after Mr. Robert's death. This disclosure leads to a bitter feud over Mr. Robert's estate, with each woman and their separate children seeking a fair share of his wealth.
As the legal battle unfolds, the family's secrets are exposed, and we see the colorful cracks in the family's connections. We also see the impact of Mr. Robert's wealth on his family, and how it has created pressure and rapacity among them.
The story eventually explores the themes of family, love, treason, and rapacity. It shows how plutocrats can occasionally tear families piecemeal, and how secrets and falsehoods can produce rifts that are delicate to mend. In the end, the story leaves us with a sense of the significance of remission and understanding, indeed in the face of delicate circumstances