No Pity, No Regret

I spent four years sacrificing everything for my fiancé, Mark, supporting him through college, only for him to return with Sarah, his childhood sweetheart, and announce their wedding.

The day he came back, this new woman pushed her way into our home and into my bedroom, forcing me to give up my space. I asked Mark about our engagement, but he just ignored me.

Then, he accused me of stealing from the factory I' d poured my life into, the one my parents built, and had me thrown in jail. My uncle, a frail old man, sold everything he owned, even his only two cows, to bail me out.

I couldn' t understand why he would betray me so completely and utterly. Why would he humiliate me and destroy my future for a woman who was a near-stranger? What was I missing?

With nothing left to lose, I left town, vowing never to look back. I had my bus ticket to New York, and a burning desire to start over.

Olivia White watched Mark Peterson, the man she' d waited four years for, stride into the textile mill.

He didn' t look at her.

His arm was wrapped tightly around another woman, Sarah Jenkins, his childhood sweetheart.

"Sarah, this is my family's mill!" Mark announced, his voice booming with pride. "My parents built it from the ground up. Dozens of workers, thousands in profit every month!"

He puffed out his chest.

Olivia straightened her aching back. She' d been patiently showing a new worker how to operate a loom, but Mark' s loud entrance had interrupted everything.

A nearby worker, David, grumbled under his breath, "Mr. Peterson sure knows how to take credit. Everyone knows you've been running this place, Ms. White, even before you were family!"

Olivia gave a slight shake of her head. What was the point of saying anything? Mark never saw her work, only the results he could claim as his own.

"Mark, this is the machinery room," Olivia said, her voice steady. "You shouldn't be in here without proper safety gear."

Mark' s face tightened into a frown. "This is my family's business. I can go wherever I please."

He gestured dismissively at Olivia. "As for you, don't you know what time it is? Get home and make Sarah a proper meal!"

Sarah, clinging to Mark's arm, giggled. "Oh, Mark, your parents are so impressive, building all this to put two college graduates through school!"

A cold knot formed in Olivia' s stomach. For four years, Mark had barely written. His letters were short, always ending with a request for money. She had scrimped and saved, sending him every penny she could spare, worrying he wasn't eating enough.

Had it all gone to Sarah?

Mark shifted, avoiding her gaze.

Olivia tried again. "Mark, the equipment is dangerous. You need protective gear."

He snatched the safety gloves from her hand impatiently. "Since it's so dangerous, Sarah can wear these. Her skin is delicate, can't have her getting hurt."

Sarah blushed. "Oh, Olivia, you must think I'm such a child. Mark always looks out for me."

Olivia' s face remained a blank mask.

Sarah, giddy and carefree, skipped towards a whirring machine. "What does this do? I've never seen one!"

"Don't run in the factory, it's dangerous!" Olivia shouted.

Before she could finish, a piercing shriek cut through the noise of the mill. Sarah had slipped on a scrap of fabric and was falling toward the machine.

Olivia lunged forward to help her, but a body slammed into her, shoving her violently.

"Get out of the way!" Mark roared.

Olivia stumbled backward, her balance gone. She fell hard against the sharp edge of a nearby spinning loom.

"Olivia, look out!" David yelled, grabbing her arm and pulling her away just as her sleeve caught.

She was safe from being dragged in, but a searing pain shot up her arm. A sharp metal edge had torn a long, gruesome gash from her thumb to her forearm. Blood instantly soaked her sleeve.

"Ms. White, that was too close! That machine could have killed you!" David said, his face pale with shock.

Olivia bit her lip to keep from crying out.

Mark wasn't looking at her. He was on the floor, gently massaging Sarah' s ankle, which didn't even look swollen. He looked up and his eyes met Olivia' s. His face was a mask of fury.

"Olivia, what kind of manager are you? You can't even ensure basic safety!"

Sarah whimpered. Mark scooped her up into his arms and rushed for the door.

"You wait," he snarled over his shoulder. "If anything happens to Sarah, I'll never forgive you!"

David was fuming. "Ms. White, how can he do that? You're practically married, and he just leaves you for another woman?"

Olivia managed a weak, self-deprecating smile. Mark had forgotten he had a fiancée a long time ago.

Four years. Four years ago, he' d promised to marry her the day he got back from college. She'd counted the days. She' d made the wedding bed. She' d plastered red "囍" stickers, the symbol for double happiness, on every piece of furniture in the small house they were supposed to share.

Three days ago, he' d returned. His college degree had landed him a prestigious post as a captain in the army. She thought her wait was finally over.

But he brought Sarah with him.

Sarah immediately took over Olivia' s bedroom, a silent, open challenge. And Mark said nothing. He never once mentioned their engagement. Olivia had told herself to be patient.

Not anymore.

She went to the local clinic, where a doctor stitched and bandaged her arm. The pain was a dull, constant throb. From there, she walked to the post office. She pulled a worn business card from her wallet and made a phone call.

"Mr. Davies, I've made up my mind. I'd be honored to join your company."

Mr. Davies' voice on the other end was full of genuine delight. "Excellent, Ms. White! Our company needs talent like yours. The economy is booming, and once you're here in New York, we'll build something great together!"

Her start date was set for one week from today.

Olivia hung up the phone.

That night, she went home. In the quiet house, she systematically took down every single wedding decoration. She packed a small bag. Her gaze fell on the faded "Just Married" banner she had hung in anticipation. She tore it from the wall, her hands steady as she ripped it in two.

No, she wouldn't be marrying him.

Olivia had just finished taking down the last of the decorations when the front door creaked open.

Mark' s younger brother, Kevin, limped in. He glanced around the bare living room, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"What are you doing? Where are all the decorations?"

His eyes lit up with malicious understanding. "My big brother must have had second thoughts. A decorated army captain marrying a capitalist' s daughter like you? Hmph. Olivia, you should have died in that fire with your parents."

Olivia flinched but said nothing. She knew Kevin hated her. She also felt she owed him. Years ago, her family, the Whites, had been wealthy. The Petersons worked for them. A fire had broken out at the White family warehouse. Mark's parents had rushed in to save their employer's property. A young Kevin, trying to help, was crushed by a falling beam. It crippled his right leg for life.

The door opened again. This time it was Mark, supporting Sarah. He saw Olivia and frowned.

"Olivia, you went too far this time. Sarah was almost seriously hurt because of you! I'll be busy taking care of Sarah, so let's postpone our wedding."

He finally noticed the bare walls. A mocking smile spread across his face.

"You took down the wedding decorations? Do you think this 'playing hard to get' trick will work on me? A woman with your background, who else would have you? Only the Petersons would take you in, out of the goodness of our hearts!"

He waved a dismissive hand. "Now, go make dinner. Don't keep Sarah, our patient, waiting!"

Olivia silently held up her arm. Fresh blood was seeping through the white bandage. "I'm hurt too. I can't cook."

Mark' s expression softened for a fraction of a second, then immediately hardened again. "Then go buy something from the diner in town. Sarah and I don't care for your bland home cooking anyway!"

Olivia swayed on her feet. For four years, every cent of Mark's college expenses had come from her earnings at the factory. She worried he wouldn't have enough, so she ate the cheapest food herself to send him more. Since he'd been back, she'd even cooked him extra eggs, a luxury she rarely afforded herself. Now she knew he was used to eating out.

She walked to the diner and bought the food. As she approached the house on her way back, she heard Mrs. Peterson's voice drift through the open window.

"Mark, you're a captain now. You can find any woman you want. You don't need to stick to this engagement with Olivia! She's just a country girl, she's not good enough for you."

Mr. Peterson' s voice chimed in. "She's right. Sarah is perfect. You're both college graduates, both in the army now. A perfect match!"

She heard Sarah's shy laughter. Mark said nothing.

The year the college entrance exams were reinstated, Olivia had taken them. She failed. She planned to try again, but Mark had convinced her to stay. He asked her to care for his parents, promising he' d marry her as soon as he returned. For four years, she had served his family, ignoring the town gossip about a woman living with a man's family before marriage. She had believed it was all worth it.

Olivia pushed open the door. The laughter inside stopped abruptly.

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Such a buzzkill."

Mark spoke slowly, not looking at her. "Olivia, sit down. There's something I need to tell you. Our textile mill has grown, but it's not managed properly. I've decided to transfer it to the army's management. It will produce uniforms for the military."

Olivia's eyes widened. "Mark, do you mean the army is buying our family's mill?"

Mark frowned, his voice sharp. "Olivia, why do you always use such capitalist terms? Remember who you are! You're a captain's fiancée, watch your words! It's not a purchase, it's a donation!"

She couldn't believe it. Her voice trembled. "Mark, this factory was rebuilt on my parents' legacy. The technology, the workers... that was their life's work. It took me four years to revive this mill, and you're just giving it away?"

Her voice rose. "When the factory first started, I went door to door, begging for orders. I stayed up all night to ensure product quality..."

"Enough!" Mark cut her off, his face red with impatience. "You have the nerve to complain? This factory is a remnant of capitalism! I'm saving it by giving it to the army!"

He glared at her. "And what kind of woman are you, always out there showing your face? Your mind is always on the factory. Who's going to do the housework? Who's going to take care of my parents and my brother?"

He slammed his hand on the table. "It's decided. The factory is no longer your concern. You'll stay home and be a good wife and mother!"

Olivia bit her lip, her heart sinking. She knew arguing was useless. The mill was her parents' only legacy, and her four years of sweat and tears. She couldn't just let it go.

"This factory, though small, requires experienced management..." she started.

Sarah, smiling sweetly, cut her off. "Olivia, Mark said I'll be managing the factory for now."