In the late 90s, at a dance in a small town, the beautiful Anna was approached by two enviable gentlemen - Mikhail and Aleksey. Anna chose Mikhail and never regretted her choice. 20 years have passed since then. Mikhail died a year ago in a car accident, and their daughter Nastya was injured and is now confined to a wheelchair. Anna manages to sign up her daughter for an operation with the capital's medical luminary, but she needs a lot of money. The days are counting. In desperation, she turns to... Aleksey, who by this time is already "the owner of factories, newspapers, and ships." Aleksey agrees to help Anna in exchange for... a fictitious marriage.