The story is about a girl named Sarah who lives with her single mother and sister Zona in Paris. Sarah and Zona have a rivalry since childhood, with Zona being jealous of Sarah's intelligence and Sarah not being jealous of Zona's beauty.
As they grow up, Zona becomes popular in school, but Sarah finds her strength in being smart and not letting bullies get to her. One day, Sarah meets a boy named Henry in the library, and they become friends. Henry praises Sarah's beauty, but she doesn't believe him at first. However, they start dating, and Henry shows genuine affection towards Sarah.
However, Zona tries to sabotage their relationship by claiming that Henry is a cheater, which Sarah eventually discovers to be a lie. Zona had actually kissed Henry and manipulated the situation to make it seem like Henry was cheating on Sarah.
As time passes, Henry goes abroad for higher education, and Sarah's mother falls ill, requiring expensive heart surgery. Sarah works part-time to save money for the surgery, while Zona refuses to help, considering herself a "princess" who can't work.
Zona eventually leaves home, leaving behind a note that she can't live with poor and depressed people like them. Sarah is desperate to save her mother and, in a surprising turn of events, saves a kitten from drowning in a river. The video of her bravery goes viral, and she becomes famous.
The government honors her with an award and gives her $30,000, which she uses for her mother's surgery. Her mother makes a full recovery and becomes a celebrity after participating in a reality stunt show. Sarah and her mother become rich and live a great life.
In the end, Zona returns, claiming that her boyfriend cheated on her and left her pregnant and with no money. However, Sarah kicks her out, calling her a "bloodsucking leech." Just then, Henry returns, and he proposes to Sarah, who happily accepts.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator, Sarah, is from Paris and lives with her single mother and sister, Zona.
2. Sarah's sister, Zona, has always been her rival and has a history of being jealous of Sarah.
3. When Sarah was 5 years old, a tutor praised her intelligence in front of her mother, which made Zona angry and violent.
4. Sarah's mother, Mrs. Sara, is a kind and caring person who always tries to protect Sarah from Zona's abuse.
5. Sarah is smart and resourceful, and she often stands up for herself against Zona's bullying.
6. In ninth grade, Sarah met a boy named Henry in the library, and he became her friend and later her boyfriend.
7. Zona tried to sabotage Sarah's relationship with Henry by spreading lies and manipulating him into kissing her.
8. However, Henry was faithful to Sarah and eventually proved it to her.
9. Sarah's mother needed a heart surgery, but they couldn't afford it.
10. Sarah worked part-time to save money for her mother's surgery, but it wasn't enough.
11. Sarah became famous after saving a kitten from a river and was awarded $30,000 by the government for her bravery.
12. Sarah used the award money to pay for her mother's heart surgery, which was successful.
13. Sarah's sister, Zona, got pregnant and was abandoned by her boyfriend, but later claimed to have had a miscarriage.
14. Zona tried to manipulate Sarah and their mother into helping her, but Sarah rejected her and told her to leave.
15. Henry returned and proposed to Sarah, and she accepted.
16. Sarah and Henry got married, and Sarah's mother was happy and grateful for their love and support.