Hi Tex,

You showed a lot of class when you wished her the best after she stabbed you in the heart and broke off the handle. You could have done what most guys do and either acted like a whining wimp and begged her to stay or screamed and yelled like a Macho Boy and called her abusive names. But you took the higher ground, the road less traveled. So you get an 'A' in self-control and now she's getting her just deserts.

To get clear about what to do next, Tex, let's take an objective look at what was really going on with the two of you. The truth is that you may have had her body, but you didn't have her heart, because when Mister Med School flashed the cash, she jumped ship. So now you know that as far as her relationship with you was concerned, she really didn't give a hoot. Yes, she was interested in you, but her interest was higher in Fort Knox. What a phony. By the way she acted, you couldn't help but believe that she was in love with you, and then out of nowhere, she takes off to marry someone else! Trusting her to do the right thing is like trusting a klepto-maniac to count up the church donations. Think about it.

And now that she realizes that she made a big mistake, she expects you to roll over and take her back like it's no big deal? Yikes! She's got cajones the size of papayas. Tex, if you were to take her back, you'd start feeling like a real chump and she'd lose all the respect she had left for you. She might not be completely aware of it, but deep down, she'd be thinking of you as a pliable, spineless wuss. Also realize that if you were to let her back into your life, you'd never be able to relax, knowing that if another guy with lots of money came along, you could easily get burned again. So as far as you're concerned, she's permanently branded with a big M, for Mercenary, and you're not hiring.

Sometimes it's difficult to really understand your own situation when you're in the middle of it. For some perspective, Tex, imagine that Meg Ryan was to become disenchanted with her new beau, Russell Crowe, and then expected Dennis Quaid to take her back. If Dennis were to cave in and tell her that "all is forgiven", he'd look like a real loser with no self-respect, don't you think?

Tex, taking her back is a no win for you. She'd feel better and you'd feel worse. So forgive her, but you must tell her to take a hike and go fly a kite. Why? Because she broke the bond of trust, which is one third of Integrity.

The "System" says that when someone is trustworthy, his or her behavior is predictable, and this girl threw you for a loop. So remember guys, once a woman strays, you cannot afford to have her in your life, because trust is non-negotiable and she knows you are weak because you let her get away with it. Once respect is gone, there can be no Interest Level.