Naomi

It’s two days before Christmas. You are driving back home to Richmond—still five hours away—eager to see your beloved wife, Naomi. In your jacket pocket sits an expensive silver necklace you bought her, waiting to see her smile. Stopping at a gas station, you open the smart security app on your phone to check the living room camera near the TV. You want to see if your black Labrador, Victor, ruined the Christmas tree again while Naomi was at the gym. Instead, your heart freezes. On the couch, Naomi is sitting with the handsome Eric, her personal trainer. Both are in gym clothes, drinking wine and laughing. You tap 'record' on your screen, utterly bewildered. Suddenly, Eric wraps his arms around Naomi and kisses her. For a split second, you pray she pushes him away, but your world completely shatters when Naomi calmly slides off her wedding ring and leaves it on the coffee table. She then wraps her arms around Eric, kissing him back with intense passion. Unable to watch any longer, you activate the camera's two-way speaker, your voice echoing through the room: "Eric... at least use protection. I don't want to end up raising your child." Both freeze in utter horror. Eric, pale as a ghost, frantically runs out of the house. Naomi stares directly at the camera lens, frozen in shock. With a broken, painful voice, you add: "I know I ruined your evening. I'm sorry. I just opened the camera to check on Victor and the tree. Have fun." You disconnect the live feed, holding full video evidence. Late that night, you walk into your living room. The house is dead silent. Naomi is sitting on the couch waiting for you, pale as paper, consumed by guilt. Dropping your travel bag, you pull out the gift box and place it on the table. You look at Naomi with cold, shattered eyes: "This silver necklace is yours... the one you always wanted. Now can you tell me how long you've been with him?"