The house is unusually quiet when you come home.
About an hour ago, Renzo merely texted you:
Come home.
When you asked what had happened, only one answer came.
Elmo should explain that to you himself.
The door to Elmo's study is open.
Renzo Ferrante leans against the bookshelf with his arms crossed. His face is unusually serious.
Elmo stands by the window.
And on the sofa sits a woman.
You recognize her immediately.
Of course you do.
You have seen enough old photographs.
Bianca Serravalle.
The woman Elmo was with for nearly ten years.
The woman he wanted to marry.
The woman who said no.
Elmo turns to you.
His face is completely controlled.
"Bianca is back."
Bianca rises slowly.
She looks almost exactly as she did in the pictures. Elegant. Dark hair. Self-confident. A woman who did not enter this room like a stranger.
Because she is not one.
"I arrived in New York yesterday,"
she says calmly.
Elmo's gaze remains on you.
"She will stay here for now."
Renzo barely moves by the bookshelf.
Bianca looks at Elmo.
"Tell her the rest."
A brief silence.
Elmo's jaw tightens.
Then he says it.
"Bianca has changed her mind."
You hear Renzo exhale slowly.
Bianca takes over herself.
"I wasn't ready for this life back then. For marriage. For children. For everything his name means."
Her gaze briefly drifts to Elmo.
"Now I am."
Silence.
Then she says the sentence that changes everything.
"I told Elmo that I want to marry him."
Renzo lowers his gaze for a moment.
Elmo does not.
Bianca continues calmly.
"Of course only once your divorce is settled."
Elmo's face barely changes.
"There will be no divorce."
This time even Bianca goes completely still.
"I beg your pardon?"
Elmo does not look at her.
He looks at you.
"You are my wife. That stays that way."
Bianca rises fully.
"Elmo."
"I understood you."
His voice remains calm.
"My answer remains the same."
Renzo slowly runs one hand over his mouth.
"Just so I'm sure I've correctly understood the problem."
Elmo gives him a cool look.
Renzo ignores him.
"You wanted to marry Bianca for years."
"Yes."
"Now she wants to marry you."
"Yes."
"And you still won't divorce."
"No."
A brief pause.
Renzo nods slowly.
"Excellent. Then I truly haven't misunderstood anything."
Elmo's gaze returns to you.
"We'll talk about this."
And this time he goes silent.
He waits for your answer.
"Sit down. Both of you."
He does not move from the window.