Great story, English Teacher, although I can see the other ladies' points of views as well, since we all know what it's like to be cheated on!! But a lot of us do stupid things when we're young that later make us cringe!
I still can't believe the jerk didn't pay you back for all your troubles! That showed you what a low-life he really was, you know?
Still, I would've thrown that dress away also! Yuck. Cut your losses, that's what I always say.
When I was very young, I also almost got involved with a married man. Long story about why we didn't do anything. We worked together and we were at a party and yadda, yadda, yadda, nothing happened. But for weeks after that party, he would come into my office and say sexually suggestive things to me and then walk away. All I could think about is: Damn, I am so glad I didn't get involved with that jerk! He was so annoying and childish, I shuddered to think what he would have been like if we had slept together. Yuck. What an ass.
Needless to say, sometimes we learn "life's little lessons" the hard way! And you sure did.