Victoria stood frozen in the hallway like a stone statue.
The silence between them felt heavier than the grand crystal chandeliers above.
"What ridiculous joke are you playing, Arthur?" Victoria asked with a nervous laugh.
"This woman cleans toilets and vacuums carpets for minimum wage!" Victoria added sharply.
Arthur straightened his suit jacket and folded his arms across his chest.
"Elena is the sole heir to the Sterling Estate and Hotel Group," Arthur said clearly.
Elena wiped another tear from her face and slowly stood up beside Arthur.
She adjusted her blue uniform shirt, standing tall despite her physical exhaustion.
"My father owned this business before he passed away last year," Elena said quietly.
"I chose to work on the floor to understand every single level of our operation."
Victoria looked back and forth between Arthur and Elena in absolute panic.
Her face flushed bright red as the reality of her mistake began to sink in.
"Arthur, you cannot be serious," Victoria stammered nervously.
"She looks like a normal employee!" Victoria tried to justify herself.
"That does not give you the right to treat anyone like trash," Arthur retorted fiercely.
"I came here today to discuss our upcoming wedding plans with you, Victoria."
"Now I am seeing who you truly are when you think nobody important is watching."
Victoria took a quick step toward Arthur, reaching for his arm desperately.
"Arthur, sweetie, I was just having a stressful morning with the event planners," Victoria pleaded fast.
"I did not mean to yell at her, I swear!" Victoria lied again.
Arthur pulled his arm away before she could even touch his sleeve.
"Stress is no excuse for cruelty," Arthur stated plainly.
Elena stepped forward slightly, looking Victoria straight in the eyes.
"I have watched you treat the staff poorly for weeks, Victoria," Elena revealed calmly.
"You never say thank you to the kitchen workers or the valet drivers."
"You act like this entire property belongs to you just because you ring a bell."
Victoria narrowed her eyes as her panic turned back into sharp defensiveness.
"You were spying on me while pretending to be a simple maid?" Victoria accused bitterly.
"I was working, Victoria," Elena replied with quiet strength.
"I earned my living while learning how our staff is actually treated by high-end guests."
Arthur reached out and took Elena's hand supportively.
"My father's will was very specific about the inheritance," Elena continued smoothly.
"I hold eighty percent of the company shares until my child is born."
Victoria's eyes darted down to Elena's stomach with sudden horror.
"Your child?" Victoria whispered in confusion.
Arthur took a deep breath and looked directly at his fiancé.
"Elena is my ex-wife, Victoria," Arthur confessed quietly.
"And she is carrying my child."