THE RICH GUY IN DISGUISE

BITTER TEARS

Vera's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurred as her consciousness slowly returned. She blinked against the drowsiness, her surroundings coming into focus. The room was unfamiliar, the soft hues of the walls bathed in the gentle glow of daylight.

Confusion tugged at the edges of her thoughts as she tried to piece together where she was and how she had gotten here.

With a slight groan, Vera pushed herself up into a sitting position, her head spinning slightly from the disorientation. She glanced around the room, taking in the unfamiliar furnishings and the subtle elegance that permeated the space. It was a stark contrast to the home she had shared with Donald, a world away from the life she had known.

As her eyes roamed the room, questions filled her mind. How had she ended up here? Where in the world was she? She couldn't shake the feeling of being adrift, caught in a sea of uncertainty.

And then, just as a sense of unease began to settle over her, the room's door swung open. Vera's