Timothy, a man in his early forties, sat in the guestroom, nervously rubbing his hands. He had been caught, and now his wife was downstairs, pacing and fuming.

It had all started a few weeks ago when Timothy met Laura at the park. Laura, a co-ed at the local college, stands at 5'6" with a slender figure that accentuates her curves, complemented by long, cascading hair and captivating green eyes. Her magnetic personality lights up any room, combining a playful sense of humor with a deep passion for engaging conversations.

Timothy knew his wife didn't like Laura---she'd said as much after the first time Timothy brought her name up. “That girl is trouble,” Melissa had said. “I don't want you 'playing' with her. She's a bad influence.”

But Laura was hard to resist. She dared Timothy to climb the tallest tree in the park, to splash in the fountain, and to stay out late. Timothy felt alive and free when he was with Laura, but deep down, he knew his wife wouldn't approve even though he and Laura weren't doing anything except spending time together.

So Timothy started sneaking out. He told his wife he was going bowling with a friend or working out at the gym, but instead, he met up with Laura. They laughed, ran around town, and whispered about their secret adventures.

Today, though, the secret came crashing down.

When Melissa found out Timothy had been with Laura, she confronted him the moment he walked through the door.

“Timothy!” his wife's voice was sharp and cutting. “Where were you?”

“I was at Nathan's watching the game,” Timothy said quickly, his heart racing.

Melissa crossed her arms. “Don't lie to me, little man. I know you were with Laura.”

Timothy's face turned pale. “No, I wasn't!” he protested, but the words sounded weak even to his own ears.

Melissa's eyes narrowed. “Don't make me ask again.”

Timothy swallowed hard. “Okay, fine. I was with her, but we weren't doing anything bad!”

“Nothing bad? Timothy, you know I told you not to see that girl! She's half your age. She's a bad influence, and now you're lying to me about it? I can't believe this!”

“I'm sorry! I didn't mean to lie. I just didn't think it was a big deal.”

“It is a big deal,” Melissa said firmly. “You lied, and you've been sneaking around. That's unacceptable.”