EPISODE 10: THE SEPARATION ## CHAPTER 1: THE LETTER The envelope arrives on a Tuesday. Elena finds it in the morning mail—cream paper, no return address, her name in elegant script. Inside, a single photograph and a typed note. The photograph shows Dante. At a restaurant. With a woman. She's beautiful—dark hair, red dress, leaning close enough that their conversation seems intimate. Dante's expression is focused, intent, the same expression he wears when he's negotiating. The note reads simply: Ask him about Venice. Elena's hands tremble. She hasn't heard anything about Venice. Dante was in Milan last week for meetings. He said meetings. He didn't mention restaurants or beautiful women or whatever this is. It's nothing, she tells herself. Business dinner. Colleague. Coincidence. But the doubt takes root anyway. --- ## CHAPTER 2: THE QUESTION She waits until evening. They're in the study—Dante reviewing contracts, Elena pretending to read—when she finally speaks. "How were the Milan meetings?" "Productive. The distribution expansion is moving forward." He doesn't look up. "Why?" "Just curious." A pause. "Did you go anywhere else? Besides Milan?" Now he looks up. Something flickers across his face—guilt? Concern? She can't tell. "I stopped in Venice for a few hours. A quick meeting." "You didn't mention that." "It wasn't important." "What kind of meeting?" The silence stretches. "Elena,...