After I left with 10 million, he was heartbroken

Mrs. Thompson offered me a cool million to walk away from her son.

I thought Michael and I had something real, a deep connection. I was going to joke about the offer with him.

Then, after a particularly tender night, I accidentally answered his phone.

"Honey, are you leaning towards gold foil or matte for the wedding invites?" a bright, unfamiliar voice chirped.

My blood ran cold.

Michael was getting married. What did that make me?

On Michael's wedding day, I boxed up every memory of us, every little thing, and shipped it all to him before boarding a plane to Europe.

Two years later, Michael pulled every string he could to lure me back to the States, all just to show me a fireworks display.

Under a canopy of cherry blossoms against the backdrop of an old city wall, his eyes were burning as he asked, "Remember when you said that anyone who watches fireworks together will be together forever? Does that still count?"

1.

After things got heated, Michael headed for the shower.

I was sprawled on the bed, talking to him through the steamed-up glass door. "Hey, Michael, your mom came to see me today."

His muffled voice floated back, "What was that?"

Suddenly, my phone started buzzing like crazy. I groaned, pushed myself up with my sore muscles, and answered.

A cheerful, bubbly voice came through the line, "Michael, are you leaning towards gold foil or matte for the wedding invites?"

My stomach dropped into my boots.

So, Mrs. Thompson was telling the truth. Michael was getting hitched.

What was I then? A temporary distraction?

Michael emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. I was still frozen in place when he nuzzled my neck, “You look upset, baby.”

I pushed him away, and said casually, “Your fiancée wants to know if you want gold foil or matte invites.”

He didn't hesitate. He immediately threw off the towel, pulled on a fancy suit and bolted out the door.

That night I scrubbed myself raw and waited, sleeplessly, until the sun came up, but Michael didn’t call.

Michael and I were high school sweethearts. Back then, he was the golden boy, the rich kid everyone wanted. Girls were practically throwing themselves at him. His locker was overflowing with love notes every day.

I never thought someone like him would fall for someone like me.

So when he confessed his feelings on graduation day, I didn't believe him.

To prove he was serious, he drove out with me to my small hometown and ate at a hole-in-the-wall diner.

For two whole months, he kept telling me that he loved me, just in case I forgot.

Finally, just before college started, I gave in and said I'd be his girlfriend.

We spent four blissful years at college, like a million other couples.

After graduating, he took over his family’s business, and I landed a gig teaching English at the best private high school in town.

It turned out, the school was financed by one of Michael’s buddies.

I began to realize how my whole life had been intertwined with Michael's for years.

No...