The story begins with abandonment—but not the usual kind. Instead of a father leaving, it was Karina’s mother, Zhenya, who walked away, leaving her three-year-old daughter behind. Alexey Dultsev, Karina’s stepfather, refused to let her be sent to a cold, abusive grandmother. “I’m not leaving you. Ever,” he promised, raising her alone after Zhenya fled abroad with his corrupt business partner.

Life wasn’t easy. Alexey lost his company and reputation but learned to braid hair, cook lasagna, and swap rock music for BTS to make Karina happy. When she was ten, a health scare revealed not pregnancy—as classmates teased—but puberty accelerated by a benign ovarian tumor. Surgery was successful, and Alexey stayed at her bedside through recovery.

A caring teacher, Kristina, stepped in to guide them, helping Karina navigate growing up. Over time, she and Alexey fell in love and married, giving Karina the family she deserved. Their home, once scarred by betrayal, became warm and whole—proof that real parenthood is built on love, not blood.