Arthur pulled a chair from a nearby waiting alcove and urged Elena to sit down.
Elena sank into the plush chair with a sigh of immense physical relief.
"I am okay, Arthur, just tired from standing so long," Elena said softly.
"I should have put an end to my relationship with Victoria weeks ago," Arthur admitted quietly.
"I ignored the warning signs because I was trying to move on with my life after our divorce."
Elena looked up into Arthur's eyes, seeing genuine regret reflected there.
"We both made mistakes during our marriage, Arthur," Elena acknowledged gently.
"We were young, and we let work drive a wedge between us."
"When my father fell ill, I realized what truly mattered in life," Elena added.
Arthur took a seat on the small wooden bench across from her.
"When you returned six months ago, I realized I never stopped loving you, Elena," Arthur said softly.
Elena's eyes softened as she looked at her ex-husband.
They had parted ways three years ago due to long work hours and constant misunderstandings.
Neither of them had ever truly moved on emotionally from the bond they shared.
When Elena discovered she was pregnant shortly after their brief reunion, everything changed.
They had agreed to take things slow and focus on co-parenting their child maturely.
Arthur had been involved with Victoria before Elena's return, and breaking it off proved complicated.
Victoria had used financial pressure and public social standing to keep Arthur tied to her.
"Victoria was using your family's financial prestige to pay off her father's debts," Elena revealed quietly.
Arthur looked up in genuine surprise at Elena's statement.
"How did you find out about that?" Arthur asked curiously.
"Our hotel accounting department flagged several suspicious wire transfers last week," Elena explained.
"She was trying to use your corporate account to settle her private credit lines."
Arthur rubbed his forehead in sheer disbelief at how close he had come to catastrophe.
"I was so blind to her real intentions," Arthur admitted with a heavy sigh.
"She pretended to care about my work and my family's charitable foundations."
"She only cared about the status your name provided her," Elena said gently.
Arthur reached across the small distance and placed his hand over Elena's hand.
"What about us, Elena?" Arthur asked in a soft, hopeful tone.
"Where do we go from here once the noise settles down?"
Elena looked down at their joined hands and felt a familiar warmth rush through her heart.
"We focus on our baby first, Arthur," Elena answered with a gentle smile.
"And maybe we give ourselves a real second chance without any secrets between us."
Arthur smiled for the first time all morning, a heavy weight lifting off his shoulders.
"I would like that more than anything in the world," Arthur said sincerely.
He stood up and offered his arm to help Elena stand up from the chair.
"Let us get you out of that maid uniform and into your proper office downstairs," Arthur suggested softly.
"The hotel board members are waiting for the real chief executive to lead today's meeting."
Elena took his arm with a confident smile returning to her face.
"Let's show them how this family business is supposed to be run," Elena agreed warmly.