One morning, a wife found a note left on the fridge by her husband. In it, he calmly explained that while he still valued her as a good partner, her age—57—meant she could no longer fulfill certain needs he now sought elsewhere. He admitted he would be spending the evening with his 19-year-old secretary at a hotel, asking her not to misunderstand or become upset. He reassured her that he would return home before midnight, presenting his decision as reasonable and even considerate.

Finally, she delivered a sharp, unforgettable conclusion using a mathematical analogy. Since 19 goes into 57 more times than 57 goes into 19, she reasoned, her situation offered more “advantage.” With that, she informed him she would not be home until the following day. Her response turned his justification back on him, transforming his betrayal into a lesson he could not ignore.