Sherry was pinned beneath the rubble, her lungs burning, when she saw Derek’s silhouette through the dust. He was running, but not toward her. He was heading straight for Lexi. “Derek, help me!
” Sherry screamed, her voice cracking. He didn’t even glance back. He knelt beside Lexi, lifting her carefully, his voice frantic. “Lexi, are you okay?
”
Sherry’s heart didn’t just break. It turned to ash. They had been married for three years, and in the one moment she truly needed him, he hadn’t even noticed she was dying a few feet away. Later, in the hospital, the pain in her side was nothing compared to the news the doctor delivered.
“Mrs. Holt, your spleen and kidney are ruptured. You need a transplant immediately. ” The doctor paused, looking at her chart.
“Actually, your husband is a perfect match. We’ll prep him right away. ”
Before she could process it, Derek burst into the room, his face cold. “I’m not giving her my kidney.
”
Sherry stared at him. “What? ”
“You heard me,” he said. “Lexi is in critical condition.
She needs a kidney too. And I’m saving mine for her. ”
Sherry’s voice was barely a whisper. “You’d let me die?
For her? ”
“You tried to kill her,” Derek said, his eyes filled with hatred. “When the building was collapsing, you pulled her down. You’re a monster.
You need to pay for what you did. ”
Sherry felt the world tilt. “I didn’t do that! Lexi is framing me!
”
Derek didn’t listen. He turned and left the room, leaving Sherry alone with the cold realization that her husband had chosen another woman over her life. —
The hospital room became a prison. Derek’s mother, Mrs.
Holt, stood over the bed, her lips curled in disdain. “Derek’s biggest regret is marrying you,” she spat. “You’re just an orphan. You’re not good enough for my son.
”
The doctor came in with a clipboard, his expression professional but cold. “Miss Dale is in critical condition. Since you’re responsible for what happened to her, it’s only fair that you donate your kidney to her. Mr.
Holt has agreed to this. ”
Sherry’s blood ran cold. “No. You can’t do this.
”
But they were already prepping her for surgery. Derek stood in the doorway, watching, his arms crossed. Sherry’s voice grew hysterical. “Derek, please!
Don’t let them do this! I didn’t do anything wrong! ”
He didn’t move. “You brought this on yourself.
”
Just as they were about to inject the anesthetic, Sherry’s eyes snapped open wider. She looked past Derek, at the doorway, where a nurse was fumbling with a phone. “Wait,” the nurse said hesitantly. “I’ve got a video.
From the collapse. It shows what really happened. ”
The room froze. The phone screen flickered to life.
The footage showed Sherry reaching out to Lexi, trying to pull her from the falling debris. Then, Lexi’s hand shot out, grabbing Sherry’s wrist, yanking her down with her, dragging Sherry into the path of the collapsing wall. “Stop the surgery,” the nurse said, her voice shaking. “Miss Dale was the one who pulled Mrs.
Holt down. She tried to kill her. ”
The room went silent. The doctor stepped back, his face pale.
Derek’s expression shifted from anger to confusion to horror. Sherry looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. “I told you. I told you, and you didn’t believe me.
”
—
The days that followed were a blur of accusations and apologies. Derek tried to make amends, his voice softer now, his eyes full of guilt. “Sherry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.
Lexi… she framed you. She’s been lying this whole time. ”
Sherry listened, but felt nothing. The man she had loved for three years had been willing to let her die for another woman.
Words couldn’t undo that. “You want to apologize? ” she said finally. “Then give me a divorce.
”
Shock rippled across Derek’s face. “What? ”
“I want a divorce. I’m not staying in this marriage for another minute.
”
Derek’s mother scoffed from the corner. “You think you can get anything from a divorce? You’ll leave with nothing. You’re just an orphan.
You have no family, no job, no future. ”
Sherry looked at her, her voice steady. “I don’t care about your money. I just want out.
”
The divorce was quick. Derek, trying to prove his sincerity, handed her a card. “There’s ten million dollars in there. Take it.
It’ll help you get back on your feet. ”
Sherry lookd at the card, then back at him. A bitter, sad smile crossed her face. “Keep it,” she said.
“I don’t need your pity. ”
But Derek pushed it into her hand. “Take it. You’ll need it.
”
She took the card, but as soon as she walked out the door, she dropped it onto the ground. “I don’t want anything from you”, Sherry whispered, and walked away. —
Mrs. Holt watched Sherry leave, a triumphant smirk on her face.
“Finally. That gold-digger is gone. ”
But the smirk didn’t last. A few days later, she burst into Derek’s study, her face pale.
“Derek, did you hear? The Moss heiress has returned! The Galactic Group is having a party to welcome her back! ”
Derek barely looked up.
“And why do I care? ”
“Because the Moss family is one of the biggest in the country! If you could forge a connection with them, it would be a huge deal for our company. You have to go!
”
Derek sighed but agreed. Anything to get his mother to stop nagging. —
The party was lavish. Crystal chandeliers, fresh orchids, waiters with champagne.
Derek stood near the edge, surrounded by sycophants, his eyes scanning the crowd without interest. Then he saw her. Sherry was across the room, wearing a simple black dress, her hair down, laughing at something her companion said. The man beside her was Brett Moss, the CEO of the Galactic Group, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder.
Derek’s jaw tightened. He pushed through the crowd, grabbing her arm. “Sherry,” he said, his voice sharp. “What are you doing here?
Who is this? ”
Sherry pulled her arm away, her expression cold. “That’s none of your business. ”
“Is he your new lover?
” Derek demanded. “You move on fast. ”
Before Sherry could answer, Brett stepped forward, his voice calm. “Mr.
Holt, Sherry is your ex-wife now. Her life is no longer your concern. ”
“I wasn’t talking to you,” Derek snapped. “But I am talking to you,” Brett said, his smile polite but firm.
“And I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your distance from my niece. ”
The word hung in the air. Derek stared at Brett, then at Sherry. “Niece?
”
Brett nodded. “Didn’t she tell you? Sherry is my niece. She’s the Moss heiress.
”
Derek’s mouth opened, but no words came out. He looked at Sherry, this woman he had dismissed as an orphan, as a nobody, and saw her standing there, calm and composed, surrounded by the elite of the city. “You… you’re a Moss? ” he finally managed.
Sherry met his gaze, her voice soft. “I told you once that you never really knew me. You never bothered to look. ”
—
For the first time since the divorce, Derek felt something other than anger.
He felt regret. He had let her go, thinking she was worthless, only to discover she was worth everything. He tried to follow her, to explain, but Sherry walked away with Brett, her head high, leaving him standing alone in the middle of the crowded room. —
The next morning, Sherry walked into the Galactic Group offices, a new energy in her step.
Brett greeted her with a warm smile. “So, are you ready to start working? ”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m ready”
B rett led her to a desk in the design department.
“You’ll start here. Work your way up. Show them what you can do. ”
The other designers whispered and stared, but Sherry ignored them.
She had spent three years believing she was invisible. Now she was finally going to show everyone what she was capable of. —
But the climb was hard. her first big assignment was a project with the notorious Jason Evans, known for preying on new female designers.
“So, you’re the new girl,” he said, leean ing against her desk, his eyes crawling over her body. “Let’s go to the conference room and discuss the proposal. Privately. ”
Sherry forced a polite smile.
“Of course, Mr. Evans. ”
In the conference room, he didn’t talk about the project. He talked about her.
He put his hands on her shoulders, leaned close, whispered in her ear. “If you impress me tonight, this project is yours. ”
Sherry’s smile froze. She stood up, her voice shaking.
“I’m not that kind of designer. ”
He9 smiled, his hand reaching for her waist. “Every designer is that kind. It’s just a matter of price.
”
Sherry grabbed a pitcher of water and dumped it over his head. The conference room door burst open. Security guards flooded in, and behind them, Derek. Sherry froze.
Of course. Of course he was here. He owned half the building. “Derek,” Jason sputtered, pointing at Sherry.
“This woman assaulted me! She dumped water on me! I want her fired! ”
Derek lookd between then, his jaw tight.
finally, he spoke, his voice low and cold. “Get out. Both of you. ”
Sherry didn’t wait for a second invitation.
She walked past him without a word. —
The next day, Sherry found a gift waiting on her desk. A small velvet box. Inside, a beautiful diamond necklace.
She recognized it immediately. It was the “Heart of True Love”, a limited-edition piece that had been famous in the social circles last year. Derek appeared in the doorway, his hands in his pockets, his voice awkward. “I wernt it to you,” he said.
“For your birthday. I had it made months ago. ”
Sherry looked at the necklace, then back at him. Her voice was flat.
“I don’t want it. ”
“Please, Sherry,” he said. “I know I messed up. I never gave you anything before.
I was too focused on Lexi. Let me make it up to you. ”
Shery held his gaze. “You’re right.
You never gave me anything. But you gave Lexi everything. So go give her your gifts. I don’t want them.
”
She put down the box, her hands trembling. “I don’t need anything from you, Derek. ”
He reached for her arm. “Sherry, please.
”
She pulled back, her voice breaking. “Go home to your girlfriend. ”
And she walked out, leaving him standing in the empty office, holding the diamond he had been proud to give her, now worthless in his hands. —
That night, Derek went to his mother’s house, determined to demand answers.
But when he walked in, he saw something that stopped him cold. His mother was wearing a bracelet. A platinum and diamond bracelet he recognized instantly. “Where did you get that?
” he demanded. His mother looked up, startled. “From Lexi. She gave it to me.
Said it was a gift from her. ”
Derek’s blood boiled. “That was the anniversary gift I bought for Sherry! I gave it to Lexi to pass along.
She never gave it to her. She kept it for herself. ”
His mother’s face went pale. Slowly, realization dawned.
“She… she did the same with all my gifts,” Derek said, his voice shaking. “She said Sherry wouldn’t like them. So she ‘helped’ me choose. But she kept everything for herself.
”
For the first time, his mother didn’t defend Lexi. She looked at the bracelet in her hand, her face ashen. “All these years… she’s been lying to us. About everything.
”
—
The next morning, Derek stood outside Lexi’s lavish apartment, his fists clenched. When she opened the door, her face lit up with a smile. “Derek! I was just thinking about you.
Did you get my message about the new project? I’m representing the Holt Group-”
“Did you take all the gifts I bought for Sherry? ”
Lexi’s smile froze. “What?
No, of course not. Sherry probably just threw them away. ”
Derek pulled out his phone, playing a recording. His mother’s voice: “Lexi gave it to me.
Said it was a gift from her. ”
Lexi’s face went white, “I can explain-”
“No,” Derek said, his voice cold. “You’ve explained enough. You’re out.
I’m cutting you off completely. You’re not welcome in my life anymore. ”
“Derek, please! You can’t do this!
You promised my mother you would take care of me! ”
“Your mother saved my life,” Derek said, his voice sharp. “But I’m done paying that debt for your lies. ”
He turned and walked away, leaving Lexi screaming in the doorway.
—
Meanwhile, Sherry was thriving at the Galactic Group. She had just finished another presentation, her team clapping, Brett giving her a proud nod. “Your work is incredible,” he said. “I knew you had it in you.
”
“Thank you, Uncle,” she said, her voice warm. “I’m just glad to be doing what I love again. ”
Then a manager knocked on the door. “Miss Moss, the Jabber Group is finalizing their contract.
They asked for the lead designer to come sign the paperwork. They wanted you specifically. ”
But the meeting was a trap. The project manager, Jason Evans’ replacement, looked her up and down coldly.
“We’ve decided we can’t work with a company that hires scandal-prone designers,” he said. “Your reputation proceeds you, Miss Moss. ”
Sherry refused to back down. “I’m not the scandal.
I’m the designer who saved this project when your previous manager tried to force me into a compromising situation. I have evidence of his conduct. Do you want to discuss that, or are we ready to sign? ”
The manager paled but eventually signed.
Word spread. Sherry had just secured one of the biggest contracts the Galactic Group had ever landed, on her own merit, against sabotage and disbelief. —
Brett called her into his office that evening. He handed her a file.
“There’s a national designer competition happening,” he said. “The winner gets a huge contract and the title of National Designer of the Year. The Holt Group is sponsoring it. ”
Sherry looked at the file, then at him.
“Why do you want me to join? ”
“Because you’re the best designer we have,” he said. “And because I know you’ve never won anything fair in your life. It’s time you did.
”
She smiled. “Alright. I’ll join. ”
—
The competition was fierce.
Sherry’s work was precise, elegant, and full of heart. She made it through the preliminary rounds with flying colors, reaching the final round against a select group of finalists—including Lexi, who had somehow gotten in. On the day of the finals, Sherry stood in the exhibition hall, looking at her design. Brett beside her squeezed her shoulder.
“You’ve got this,” he said. “I’m proud of you. ”
Derek approached, his face hopeful. “Sherry, I saw your work.
It’s beautiful. Congratulations. ”
“Thank you,” she said, her voice neutral. She didn’t want to be rude in front of the judges, but she didn’t want to encourage him either.
Then Lexi appeared out of nowhere, her eyes glittering with malice. “Sherry,” she said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “I saw your design. It must’ve taken you so long.
You must be exhausted. Maybe you should take a break. ”
Sherry didn’t take the bait. “I’m fine, thank you.
”
Lexi’s eyes narrowed, but she said nothing. She just walked away. —
The final results were announced. Third place: Lexi Dale.
First place: Sherry Moss. But before Sherry could even step up to accept her trophy, Lexi screamed from the audience. “She cheated! Sherry bribed the head judge!
I have proof! ”
She held up a photo of Sherry handing a small container to the head judge, Mrs. Moore. The crowd gasped.
Guests began to whisper. Derek stepped forward, his voice calm. “That photo is from this morning. The head judge, Mrs.
Moore, was Sherry’s mentor back in college. Sherry made her some desserts as a thank you. That’s not a bribe. ”
Lexi’s eye twitched.
“Derek, how would you know? You weren’t even there! ”
“Because I was,” Derek said. “I saw the whole exchange.
Mrs. Moore took the desserts as a token of gratitude. She recused herself from evaluating Sherry’s entry specifically to avoid even a hint of bias. The other judges evaluated her work fairly.
”
The auditorium fell silent. Lexi’s confidence shattered. “But-”
“And,” Derek continued, his voice hardening, “that’s not the only secret I’ve discovered about you, Lexi. You’re not just a liar.
You’re a fraud. ”
He turned to a screen behind him. A presentation began playing, documents and images flashing across the display. “The project you submitted to this competition was created four years ago by a designer you paid $100,000 to ghostwrite for you,” Derek said.
“You never created your own work. You stole the designs from others. You’ve built your entire career on stolen talent. ”
The room erupted in gasps.
“The designer you blackmailed into giving you his work? He’s right here,” Derek said, pointing to a man standing near the back. “He’s willing to testify. ”
He looked directly at Lexi.
“Your legacy is built on lies. Face the consequences. ”
Lexi screamed, “That’s not true! He’s lying!
I didn’t do any of that! ”
But the crowd had already turned against her. Security guards approached, escourting her out. Sherry stood frozen, watching as her tormentor was finally exposed.
Derek approached her, his voice soft. “Sherry, I’m so sorry. For everything. For not believing in you.
For not seeing what was right in front of me. ”
Sherry met his gaze, tears pricking her eyes. “I don’t know if I can forgive you, Derek. ”
He nodded.
“You don’t have to. But I’ll spend my life trying to earn it. ”
—
That evening, Derek’s mother came to see him, her voice trembling. “Derek, there’s news.
The Moss heiress is taking over the Galactic Group. She’s the new CEO. And she’s… she’s sherry. ”
Derek sat down heavily.
“I know. ”
“And her company is planning a merger with the Dale family. She’s going to be one of the most powerful women in the country. And I… I treated her like garbage.
All these years. I called her an orphan. I told her she was worthless. ”
Derek looked at his mother, seeing for the first time the regret in her face.
“We both did, Mom. We both did. ”
—
The next day, Sherry was in her new office, her uncle Brett handing her the CEO’s official seal. “You ready for this?
” he asked. She smiled. “More than ready. ”
A knock on the door.
An assistant entered. “Miss Moss, Mr. Holt is here to see you. ”
Sherry frowned.
“Tell him I’m busy. ”
“He said it’s about the museum project. He wants to discuss a partnership. ”
Sherry sighed.
“Fine. Send him in. ”
Derek walked in, looking more humble than she had ever seen him. He held a file in his hands, but he didn’t open it immediately.
“Sherry,” he said. “I’m not here to talk about the project. ”
“Then why are you here? ”
He took a deep breath.
“There’s something I should have told you years ago. About Lexi’s mother. ”
Sherry sat down. “I’m listening.
”
“When Lexi’s mother died, she wasn’t killed by the collapse,” Derek said, his voice heavy. “She was alive when the building came down. She was trapped. Lexi was there.
She could have called for help. But she didn’t. She stayed outside, watching her mother die. ”
Sherry felt cold.
“What are you saying? ”
“She wanted her mother to die,” Derek said. “Because her mother was the only one who knew the truth. and that truth was that Lexi wasn’t the woman everyone thought she was.
She planned it. She let her mother die so she could use her death to guilt me into taking care of her. She turned my debt into her cage. ”
Sherry’s hands trembled.
“You have proof? ”
Derek slide the file across the desk. “Witness statements. Security footage.
She was at the scene. She could have saved her. She chose not to. ”
Sherry looked at the file, then up at him.
“Why didn’t you come to me with this sooner? ”
“Because I was a coward,” he said, his voice breaking. “I was so caught up in believing her lies that I couldn’t see the truth. I hurt you.
I ignored you. I let her almost kill you and then blamed you for it. ” He dropped his head. “I was willing to let you die, Sherry.
For her. I will never forgive myself for that. ”
Sherry said nothing. She just stared at the file, then at the man who had broken her heart so many times.
—
Two days later, she met Derek in a private room. “The evidence is… damning,” she said quietly. “She let her own mother die. For money.
For attention. For you. ”
Derek nodded, his voice low. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.
I met that woman, her mother. She was a good person. And she saved my life. ”
Sherry took his hand gently.
“You’re not responsible for Lexi’s sins, Derek. ”
“But I am responsible for mine,” he said, meeting her eyes. “For not seeing you. For not choosing you.
”
She smiled, a tear sliding down her cheek. “You’re choosing me now. ”
—
The next morning, Sherry woke up in her apartment, a knock at the door. She opened it to find a nurse and her doctor.
“Miss Moss, we need to run a few tests,” the doctor said gently. “You’ve been feeling weak recently. We’re concerned about your kidney health. ”
Sherry’s blood ran cold.
“The transplant earlier… was that a mistake? ”
“We’ll know more after the tests,” the doctor said. “But we have a potential donor waiting. He’s already been checked.
He’s a perfect match. ”
Sherry’s eyes widened. “Who? ”
The doctor hesitated.
“It’s Mr. Holt. ”
Her heart stopped. “Derek?
He can’t. He just gave me his kidney. ”
“He didn’t give it to you before,” the doctor said carefully. “The earlier transplant was from a different donor.
Mr. Holt volunteered after we discovered your injury. He’s willing to donate one of his kidneys to you now, to save your life. ”
Sherry sank onto the couch.
“He’s willing to do that? For me? ”
The doctor noded. “He said it’s what he owes you.
”
—
In the hospital, Derek lay in the bed beside Sherry, their IV lines running parallel. The transplant was scheduled for the next morning. He reached over and took her hand, his voice rough. “I’ve been thinking about you every day.
About how I treated you when you were my wife. I was blind. I didn’t see how much you loved me. I didn’t see how special you were.
”
Sherry squeezed his hand back, tears sliding down her cheeks. “You’re not wrong. I did love you. I loved you more than you ever knew.
”
“I know,” he whispered. “And I’ve spent the last few months trying to believe that I still don’t love you. But I do, Sherry. I never stopped.
”
She closed her eyes. “We’ll talk about this after the surgery. ”
“We will,” he said. “You hold on, okay.
I’m not going anywhere. ”
—
The surgery was successful. Sherry woke up in a recovery room, her body covered in before, she looked to her side. Derek lay in the bed next to hers, pale but smiling.
“Hey,” he whispered. “How are you feeling? ”
“Like I’ve been through a war,” she managed. “You made it,” he said.
“You’re going to be okay. ”
“So you really donated a kidney to me? ”
He noded. “It’s the least I could do.
”
Sherry groaned. “You could’ve saved it. I didn’t want to hurt you. ”
“I know,” he said.
“But you needed help. And I wanted to be the one to help you. ”
A tear slid down her cheek. “Why?
”
He reached for her hand. “Because I love you, Sherry. I made mistakes. I was a fool.
But I’m not letting you out of my life again. I want a second chance. A real chance. ”
She closed her eyes, exhausted, but a small smile touched her lips.
“We’ll talk after I recover. ”
—
Weeks later, Sherry stood at the window of her new office, the skyline of the city glittering below her. The new museum project was underway, her name etched into the foundation of a landmark that would stand for generations. Derek stood behind her, holding a small box.
“This is for you,” he said softly. She turned. Inside the box was a simple ring. not extravagant, not flashy.
Just elegant and perfect. “I’ve had it for months,” he said. “I got it after we divorced. I knew I’d made the biggest mistake of my life.
I’ve spent every day trying to find a way to back to you. Sherry, I don’t deserve you. I know that. But I love you.
I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. Give me a chance to prove it. To be the man you deserve. ”
Sherry lookt at the ring, then at him.
She was tired, but she wasn’t afraid to love anymore. “I believe you,” she said, her voice soft. “And I love you too. I’ve always loved you.
I just couldn’t admit it to myself. ”
He slid the ring onto her finger, and they stood together, two broken people and a shared kidney and the beginning of a new life. At that moment, a news alert flashed on the large screen behind them. “Ex-entertainment star Lexi Dale has been convicted of attempted murder and imprisoned.
”
Sherry lookedat the screen, then at Derek, who was looking at her with nothing but love in his eyes. “Some things are just the way they had to be,” she whispered. He kissed her forehead. “I know.
I’m just glad I finally got it right. ”
—
Lexi sat in her prison cell, staring at the wall. A guard approached. “You’ve got a visitor.
”
Laurence, her only remaining fan, sat across the table from her. “I can’t keep visiting you, Lexi,” he said. “You’re a convicted criminal. They won’t let me in anymore.
”
Lexi laughed bitterly. “It doesn’t matter. Sherry won. Derek choose her.
She’s got everything. And I have nothing. ”
“You have your freedom, eventually,” he said. Lexi shook her head, her eyes glazing over.
“No. She wins. ”
—
Meanwhile, Sherry and Derek stood at the construction site of the National Museum, the grand structure rising from the ground. Sherry’s hand was in his, their rings catching the sunlight.
“So, what do we do now? ” she asked. Derek smiled, pulling her close. “We build the rest of our lives.
”
—
Sherry’s phone rang. It was Brett. “There’s news about Lexi’s sentencing,” he said. “They’re not just looking at the murder attempt.
They’re looking at the death of her mother. ”
Sherry’s breath caught. “There’s more evidence? ”
“Yes,” Brett said grimly.
“She didn’t just let her mother die. She pushed the support beam that crushed her. She purposely killed her mother to get her inheritance and to guilt Derek into caring for her. They found proven evidence.
”
Sherry looked at Derek, and he noded, understanding. He squeezed her hand tightly. “She’s going away for a long time,” Brett finished. “She’ll never see the light of day again.
”
Sherry looked up at the sky, then back at Derek. “The truth always comes out eventually doesn’t it”
“It does,” Derek said softly. “We just have to be patient. ”
—
Years later, Sherry and Derek operated a prestigious design firm together.
Their home was filled with photos of their travels, their love, and their shared triumph over everything that once tried to tear them apart. In one of those photos, hanging above their mantle, was a picture from the day they laid the foundation stone for the National Museum. Sherry in a hard hat, Derek by her side, both of them covered in dust, laughing like nothing else in the world mattered. Because at the end of the day, that was what had gotten them there.
Not money. Not status. Not schemes or lies.
Just love, finally given a chance to grow where it had almost been destroyed.
