The Legacy of an Old Established Family

Rosiana's father was Anatoly. He was just over forty and looked refined and scholarly, the very image of a university professor.

Her mother worked in finance for the family foundation and was not in any senior position either.

If they had not belonged to such a family, the couple would have been the sort of ordinary citizens commonly seen in Moscow or Saint Petersburg.

They had decent jobs and lived comfortably enough, though not lavishly—better off than some, worse off than others.

But they had been fortunate in life. Not only had they been born into a wealthy family, they had also met Putin when he was down on his luck and formed an exceptionally close bond with him.

As a result, Rosiana's parents now held considerable status within the family.

Whenever the old patriarch found it inconvenient to personally receive distinguished guests, the two of them represented the family at the airport.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the group got into their cars and left the airport.

Rosiana's family lived in a large estate within the city. It took more than half an hour to drive there from the airport.

They turned off the public road onto a private street. Security guards stood at the entrance, beside a sign that read, "Private Area, No Entry."

From the entrance alone, it was impossible to see what lay inside. Lush woods lined both sides of the road, concealing the estate completely.

Naturally, Wang Ye's motorcade was not stopped. Once the guards raised the barrier, the convoy drove straight in.

They followed the straight road for several minutes before reaching a fountain plaza. Only then could they see the estate in its entirety.

Facing the fountain plaza stood a sprawling, castle-like building that looked as though it had stood there for