On a stormy winter night in 1991 Ustinovo, Anna hears knocking and opens the door to find a mysterious girl holding a baby. The girl begs Anna to hide the child, claiming his life is in danger, then vanishes into the snow. The infant, with a pendant engraved “A,” is left behind. Childless Anna and her husband Ivan decide to care for him.

They name him Sasha, short for Alexander. As years pass, Sasha grows into a kind, intelligent boy—beloved by his adoptive parents. On graduation day, he receives top honors. But that evening, a lawyer arrives, revealing Sasha’s real name is Belov, and his wealthy parents died in 1991. The baby had been rescued by a nurse during political unrest.

Stunned, Anna and Ivan realize they had unknowingly sheltered a child of great importance. Yet in their hearts, he had always been their son. Sasha, too, sees them as his true family.