The narrator, Sarah, lives with her single mother and younger sister Zoa in Paris. Zoa is jealous of Sarah's intelligence and bravery, often resorting to bullying and manipulation. As they grow up, Zoa becomes popular in school, but her insecurity and resentment towards Sarah persist.
Sarah meets a boy named Henry in the library, and they start dating. However, Zoa tries to sabotage their relationship by kissing Henry and telling Sarah that he's cheating on her. Sarah confronts Henry, but he claims Zoa initiated the kiss. Later, Zoa's boyfriend reveals that Zoa manipulated him into taking a photo of her kissing Henry.
Sarah's mother falls ill and needs expensive heart surgery. Zoa refuses to help, instead stealing their mother's jewelry and running away. Sarah takes up a part-time job to support her mother's treatment.
After saving a kitten from a river, Sarah becomes an overnight sensation and receives a bravery award, which includes a prize of $30,000. She uses the money to pay for her mother's surgery, and they become rich and famous.
Years later, Zoa shows up at their doorstep, pregnant and broke, after her boyfriend cheats on her and leaves her. Sarah kicks her out, refusing to let her see their mother. Later, Henry returns and proposes to Sarah, who happily accepts.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator, Sarah, lives with her single mom and sister Zoa in Paris.
2. Sarah and Zoa have a rivalry, with Zoa often getting jealous of Sarah's accomplishments.
3. When they were young, a tutor praised Sarah in front of their mom, causing Zoa to become angry and hit Sarah.
4. Sarah is smarter and more fearless than Zoa, often taking risks and standing up for herself.
5. In ninth grade, Sarah met a boy named Henry in the library, and they became friends.
6. Henry asked Sarah to be his girlfriend, and she accepted.
7. Zoa told Sarah that Henry was cheating on her, but it was later revealed that Zoa had lied and had actually kissed Henry herself.
8. Sarah and Henry reconciled after the truth was revealed.
9. After graduating from school, Henry went abroad for higher education, and Zoa and Sarah started college.
10. Sarah's mom needed an expensive heart surgery, and Sarah took a part-time job to help pay for it.
11. Zoa refused to help, saying she was too delicate and didn't want to spoil her hands.
12. Zoa stole their mom's jewelry and left a note saying she couldn't live with "poor, depressed people" anymore.
13. Sarah saved a kitten from a river and became a local hero, with videos of the rescue going viral.
14. Sarah was honored by the government with a bravery award and received $30,000, which she used to pay for her mom's surgery.
15. Sarah's mom recovered fully from her surgery, and Sarah became a celebrity after participating in a reality stunt show.
16. Zoa showed up at their door, asking for help after her boyfriend cheated on her and left her pregnant and penniless.
17. Sarah kicked Zoa out, telling her she deserved whatever bad things came her way.
18. Henry returned and proposed to Sarah, and she accepted.