Amber, the narrator, shares her story of growing up with a single mother who sent her to live with her aunt and cousin due to her terminal illness. However, her aunt, who had a side business making sauces, was cruel and favored her own daughter, Guide. Despite the difficulties, Amber and Guide became close, but their relationship deteriorated when Amber started dating a boy named Aiden. Amber's aunt was jealous and disapproved of their relationship, leading to a violent confrontation.
Amber eventually left home and started a new life, working part-time and preparing for college entrance exams. Two years later, she got accepted into a prestigious business school and eventually became a billionaire tycoon. Meanwhile, her aunt and cousin's sauce business was stolen, and they ended up broke and struggling.
Years later, Amber's lawyer approached her to take on her aunt and cousin's case, and despite her initial hesitation, Amber decided to help them. After winning the case, Amber met her aunt and cousin at a restaurant, where they were shocked to discover that Amber was their benefactor. Amber forgave her aunt and even offered to consider their debt repaid, citing that she was doing what her mother would have done for her family.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator, Amber, lives in a small town near Chicago.
2. Amber was born to a single mother who loved her very much.
3. When Amber was five years old, she was diagnosed with a terminal illness and was sent to live with her aunt and cousin.
4. Amber's aunt worked as a nurse and had a side business making sauces using a secret family recipe.
5. Amber's aunt did not like her very much and treated her poorly.
6. Amber's cousin, who she refers to as her "guide," was initially mean to her but eventually became close to her.
7. Amber and her guide went to the same school and wore second-hand clothes, but the other children complimented Amber on her appearance.
8. Amber's aunt was cruel and violent towards her, and also towards her guide.
9. Amber's guide had a crush on a boy named Hayden, but Amber did not like him.
10. A boy named Aiden asked Amber out, but she initially refused him.
11. Aiden persisted in trying to win Amber over and eventually succeeded in getting her to go on a date with him.
12. Amber and Aiden started dating and were happy together.
13. Amber's aunt and guide were mean to her and tried to sabotage her relationship with Aiden.
14. Amber got accepted into Harvard, but her aunt and guide tried to prevent her from going.
15. Amber eventually found out that her aunt had burned her Harvard acceptance letter and told the university that Amber was not interested in attending.
16. Amber was devastated and got into a fight with her aunt and guide.
17. Amber left her aunt's house and moved to another city, where she started a new life and eventually got married to Aiden.
18. Amber became a successful businesswoman and started a multi-million dollar company.
19. Years later, Amber's aunt and guide came to her for help, as they were struggling financially and had lost a court case.
20. Amber agreed to help them and paid for their lawyer fees, but only because she wanted to help her guide, who she still cared about.
21. Amber's aunt was shocked and grateful for Amber's help, and the two women finally made amends.