Part 2The Scent of Betrayal

Marcus stormed into the bathroom, his face dark.

The sound of the shower filled the silence.

I sighed, frustrated. Tonight was his birthday, and I still couldn't bring myself to be intimate. As long as this smell existed, our marriage was on hold.

I rubbed my temples, annoyed.

My eyes landed on the smartwatch on the nightstand.

It was the birthday present I’d given him just this evening.

Marcus is a tenured professor at a top-tier university. He’s always buried in research and grant proposals. Nearing fifty, he needs to watch his health. So, I got him a watch that tracks his heart rate.

I picked it up, idly exploring its features.

Suddenly, the watch vibrated and two messages popped up on the screen.

[Prof, can we not do it in the office next time?]

[It still hurts.]

My fingers froze.

Professor?

Office?

Hurts?

The words hit my brain like hammers.

And then, I understood.

Oh. That's why he stinks.

He's cheating.

Well, that solves that.