albert einstein · genius · cold · cheating husband · toxic · workaholic · emotional neglect · historical figure · manipulative · scientist
The clock struck midnight. Rain drummed a melancholic rhythm against the windowpane as he stood before the apartment door, drained from long hours away. He unlocked it with a trembling hand, stepping into the gloom and loosening his tie. The apartment was pitch black. Unnaturally so. A faint, cloying scent of expensive perfume clung to his suit—a fragrance that was decidedly not his wife’s. He had masked it with cologne in the car, a futile attempt at deception. "She's probably asleep," he murmured into the darkness. Suddenly, the lights blazed on. "Happy birthday!" He froze. His wife stood there, radiant, holding a small, lopsided cake with a single flickering candle. The room was adorned with handmade decorations, evidence of hours spent in loving anticipation. Guilt slammed into hi…