The Replacement Wife Conspiracy

Chapter 4: Memories Vs RealityUntitled Episode

“You’re not going to let me go, are you?”

Ella giggled as Gabe’s arms tightened around her waist, twirling her under the golden glow of the Eiffel Tower.

Paris sparkled around them like a dream. The lights, the music drifting from a nearby violinist, the cool breeze of evening—it was their first anniversary, and everything felt enchanted.

“Never,” Gabe whispered, his lips brushing her ear. “Not even if you beg.”

“What if I try bribing you with pastries?”

“Not even then,” he grinned. “Though I might consider a macaron or two.”

She laughed, resting her head against his chest. His heartbeat thudded steadily beneath her cheek.

They strolled hand in hand down the streets, stopping to admire street art and sip from a shared cup of hot chocolate. Gabe kept stealing glances at her like she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

“Can we never leave this place?” Ella asked as they leaned over a stone bridge, the Seine shimmering beneath them.

“I’d buy it for you if I could,” he murmured. “The whole damn city.”

Their laughter filled the air.

They got to the private beach behind their villa, it was secluded by tall palms and the sound of the tide lapping at the shore. A bonfire crackled softly nearby, casting golden light over them in flickers.

“I want to make love to you, Ella.” Gabe’s voice melted into the hush of the waves, low and thick with desire, as he stood before her beneath the moonlight.

Ella turned, eyes wide, lips parting as she looked up at him. The ocean breeze tugged at her silk wrap, loosening it just enough to bare her shoulder. “Here?” she asked, breathless.

“Right here,” Gabe said, stepping toward her, one hand slipping behind her back, the other cupping her jaw. “No walls. No rules. Just us and the sea and everything I’ve held back.”

Her heart pounded. The intimacy of his words, the hunger in his gaze—it pulled her under like the tide. “Then take me,” she whispered.

He undressed her off slowly, reverently, as though unveiling a secret he never wanted to share with the world. She shivered from the way his hands moved over her, worshiping every inch.

Her fingers tangled in his shirt, dragging it up over his head, exposing the heat of his skin beneath the firelight.

“You’re so damn beautiful, Ella,” he breathed, eyes raking over her body. “I don’t say it enough. But I see it every time I look at you.”

She reached up, pulling him down into a kiss that stole the breath from her lungs. “I’m all yours, baby.”

Gabe lowered them onto the blanket laid over the sand, his body covering hers as the fire crackled beside them and the stars stretched endless overhead. The scent of saltwater and cedar wood filled the air as his lips moved over her collarbone, his fingers trailing heat down her spine.

“I want to feel everything,” he said against her skin. “Every sound you make, every breath. I would like to know I still make you feel like you’re the only woman in the world.”

“You make me feel like I’m the only woman in the world,” she whispered, eyes fluttering shut.

He lifted her dress, caressing her thighs and she moaned out loudly. He unbuckled his belt as he couldn’t hold out the urge any longer.

The ocean played its rhythm, and they danced to it, tangled in warmth, in need, in the fire that had never really gone out.

Gabe lay beside her, pulling her into his arms. Her head rested on his chest, their legs still tangled.

“I love you,” she told him, breathless and smiling.

“I’ll never stop loving you,” he replied, cupping her face. “Never.”

She fell asleep in his arm and it was peaceful.

This happened a year ago, but the memories of how lovely they had been together continued to linger.

Sleep was impossible. Ella tossed again, the sheets slipping off as she flipped from one side to the other. The weight of her thoughts pressed down on her, and she muttered under her breath.

“Why can’t I just sleep…?”

The clock ticked on. Slow and cruel.

A faint glow spilled from under the bedroom door, and she heard Gabe’s voice drift through the c***k. He was still on the phone call, the damn phone call that interfered during their reconciliation romance.

“… Need that finalized by tomorrow…” His voice was distant, sharp.

Ella turned again, burying her face in the cool pillow. No comfort.

“… Can you push the numbers to match…?”

His world had swallowed him whole, and she was left on the outside.

She muttered softly, barely a whisper, “Why are you never here when I need you?’

She closed her eyes, trying to drown out the thoughts in her head. “Just stop thinking…”

Her mind drifted back, memories flooding her thoughts.

She could almost feel the car beneath her again, the hum of the engine, the miles stretching ahead.

“Mint chocolate chip, or we’re not talking anymore,” Gabe had said, his voice playful, as always, holding out the ice cream cone like it was a challenge. His grin had been wide, that mischievous spark in his eyes.

She had laughed then, remembering the feeling of his warm hand brushing hers. “You’re impossible,” she had said, reaching for the cone. “But fine, mint chocolate chip. It’s my favorite, after all.”

“See?” Gabe had smiled, triumphant, knowing he’d won. “I know you better than you know yourself.”

And there they were, the two of them, alone in that small, quiet car, everything else slipping by unnoticed. Just the sound of their voices, the soft glow of the dashboard, and the open road waiting.

Ella closed her eyes for a moment, the memory so clear.

“That’s not us anymore.” She muttered.

Her heartfelt heavy as another memory surfaced.

“Do you want to dance?” Gabe had asked once, his voice soft in the quiet of their bedroom.

“Here?” she had teased, her voice low. “No music, no nothing?”

He smiled, pulling her close. “Just you and me.”

His hand on her ass, holding her steady, gentle, yet firm. The warmth of his forehead pressed to hers, the softness in his eyes.

“I could do this forever,” she had whispered into the space between them.

“Me too,” Gabe had said, his voice thick with sincerity.

“Is this the forever you wanted, Gabe?” She asked, obviously Gabe couldn’t hear her so she just sighed.

Her fingers brushed the pillow where she once found his notes, his handwriting so familiar. She could almost picture him scribbling them—quick, rushed, but filled with that raw sincerity that had always made her heart flutter.

“Just because I love you.”

He had written that one on a scrap of paper and tucked it under her pillow, the edges crinkled from his hurried handwriting.

“I’m sorry I was an idiot.”

That one had been tucked between the pages of the book she was reading, a small, fleeting apology.

“We used to be so… us. Is it too late?” She sniffles.

And then there was the one that still made her laugh, a crooked, messy scrawl.

“You looked beautiful while you were sleeping.”

She smiled bitterly now, and swallowed hard, fighting back the sting in her eyes. “How did we end up here?’

The silence in the room pressed against her, reminding her of the space between them now. How had everything changed so quickly?

She turned over on her side, the coolness of the sheets offering no comfort. The room was quiet, but her thoughts kept crashing through, louder than ever.

“God, I can’t wait for things to get back to how they used to be”

Ella sighed, staring at the wall. The memories were all she had now.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, the familiar vibration stirring her into motion.

Ella’s hand reached out, her fingers grazing the cool surface of the phone before she picked it up, almost without thinking.

Scrolling, she paused for a moment at a picture of a friend’s vacation. “Must be nice,” she muttered, then swiped again. Another picture. Another perfect life. Another face smiling like everything was fine.

Her thumb froze over a sponsored post.

“5 Ways to Save a Marriage That Feels Cold.”

Ella’s chest tightened, and she let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, right,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. “Like this is gonna help.”

She hesitated for a moment, then tapped the post.

The first tip popped up: Re-establish communication. Reconnect through shared memories. Ella blinked, her chest tightening. Had she even talked to Gabe in months? Really talked? She swallowed hard.

“No,” she whispered. “Not really.”

The next tip: Initiate physical affection. Ella let out a hollow laugh. “Initiate physical affection? When was the last time…?” She trailed off, her thumb swiping to the next slide. Express appreciation daily.

She scoffed, her voice thick with frustration. “He didn’t even notice when I wore the dress he bought for me yesterday.” She pressed her lips together.

The final tip: Create space for honesty. Ella’s eyes filled with a bitter sting. “Honesty?” she whispered. “I’m as honest I can be”

She stared at the screen, her chest aching, and let out a long breath. “I don’t know where to start,” she whispered to herself.

“What’s the point?” Her voice cracked, the words barely escaping her lips.

She dropped the phone back on the bed and curled into herself, the blanket feeling like it was the only thing holding her together.

“Just… stop,” she whispered, closing her eyes. The words from the post echoed in her mind, sharp and simple, like a slap. Re-establish communication…

But no matter how simple they seemed, they felt impossibly far from her reality.

Just then, the door creaked open.

“Still awake?” Gabe’s voice was low as he stepped inside, dressed in black lounge pants and a white undershirt, his hair tousled from the day.

Ella sat up slowly, clutching the phone to her chest. “Yeah. Couldn’t sleep.”

He walked over and sat at the edge of the bed, rubbing his eyes. “Sorry. That call ran late.”

She studied him, noticing the exhaustion in his eyes. “I know. You’ve been working hard.”

He didn’t say anything at first. Instead, he rubbed his hands together, then through his hair.

“You okay?” she asked, her voice soft, fingers brushing lightly across his wrist.

He glanced at her touch, then nodded. “It’s just a lot right now. The firm’s pushing for the merger. Everything has to be perfect. No room for error.”

Ella’s heart sank. “Where do I fit into this perfect plan?” she whispered.

Gabe sighed, his gaze dropping. “Ella…”

“When was the last time we went out just to be together? No business dinner. No red carpet. Just us?” Her voice trembled slightly.

He frowned. “You know I’ve been busy.”

“I know,” she replied, her voice breaking. “That’s all I ever hear. You’re always busy.”

He turned to face her, his brows furrowing. “Ella, don’t start this now. It’s late.”

“I’m not starting anything,” she said quietly, her eyes welling with unshed tears. “I’m just… trying.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking frustrated. “You think I don’t care?”

Ella’s lips tightened. “I think you’ve forgotten how to show it.”

Gabe stared at her for a long moment before reaching for the comforter and pulling it over his legs.

“I just want my husband back,” Ella whispered, her voice barely audible. “The man who danced with me at midnight. Left me notes on the bathroom mirror. Made me feel like I was the center of his universe.”

He blinked, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes. “I miss you too,” he said softly.

Ella’s heart skipped.

“I miss us,” he added quietly. But then his phone buzzed. He sighed and stood up, hesitating for a moment before muttering, “I have to take this.”

He walked out, leaving Ella alone in the dim light. Her shoulders slumped, and she slowly lay back on the bed.

“I had a beautiful marriage, how did I let those activities come in between us? I’m going to make it work. I’m going to make my marriage beautiful again” Ella said confidently.