Chapter Four: Scars On Her Skin
'Remember, don't allow him to touch you. You're mine...'
Adrian's words got stuck in Diane's head; she couldn't stop thinking about it.
The drive to Gabriel's mansion was silent; none of them spoke.
Diane was looking at the night sky, so dark, so beautiful, covered in stars.
She saw her reflection, barely visible against the darkened glass.
Diane could feel Gabriel beside her, so silent and distant, just as she remembered from her past life.
This time, however, Diane was ready to rewrite their story.
She wouldn't be the naive bride who waited for love where there was none.
She wouldn't follow Adrian's manipulations and turn her back on the only ally she might have had.
The car rolled to a stop in front of the glassy mansion.
Gabriel stepped out first, offering her his hand.
Diane accepted it, keeping her face still and unreadable as he led her through the grand entrance.
The interior was just as she remembered: cold, minimal, and sterile, like its owner.
Gabriel showed her to the master bedroom.
"This is your room," he said curtly. "Mine is down the hall if you need anything. Don't wait up."
Diane blinked, surprised. "I thought..."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "Thought what?"
"Never mind," she said softly.
In her past life, their first night together had been a disaster.
Gabriel had approached her, clearly expecting to consummate their marriage, but she had refused.
His frustration was obvious, even to a dead fly, and he had retreated to the couch without another word.
That night had set the tone for their weird relationship.
This time, Diane had a different plan.
She sat on the edge of the bed, relaxing her body as she reached up to take out the pins holding her hair.
Gold tumbled down her back; the soft strands reached the bare skin revealed by the open back of her wedding dress.
The scars were small but unmistakable, crisscrossing her pale skin like a map of her pain.
In her last life, she had hidden them from Gabriel, ashamed of what they represented.
But now, she wanted him to see.
The bathroom door opened and drew her attention, and Diane turned her head slightly, catching Gabriel coming from the steam.
His short black hair was damp, droplets of water clinging to his broad shoulders.
He had changed into a simple white shirt and gray slacks.
He was paralyzed when he saw her.
He couldn't move his eyes away from her back, slightly opening his mouth as he took in the scars.
For a moment, Diane thought he would say nothing.
But then, he took a step closer, narrowing his eyes.
"Is this... some kind of game?" Gabriel's voice was cautious.
Diane turned her head, confused. "Game?"
He gestured vaguely at her back. "The scars. Are you trying to show me you... enjoy pain?"
Her eyes widened in shock. "What? No!"
Gabriel hesitated, his hand moved almost unconsciously to the belt he had looped through his slacks.
"I don't... understand."
When Diane saw the belt in his hand, she stiffened, her breath caught in her throat.
Her reaction must have shown on her face because Gabriel immediately dropped it, holding up his hands.
"I wasn't—" he began, but she cut him off.
"Sit down," she said firmly, trembling only slightly. "I'll explain."
Gabriel frowned but obeyed, lowering himself into a nearby chair.
His shoulders were tense, his hands gripped the armrests as though bracing for whatever she was about to say.
Diane stood up and turned to face him fully, her fingers shivered slightly as she reached for the tiny buttons at the back of her gown.
"I didn't mean to shock you," she began softly. "But you should know... these scars aren't something I chose. They were given to me."
Gabriel's frown deepened. "Given to you?"
She nodded, starting to slowly undo the buttons.
The gown slipped from her shoulders, pooling around her waist.
Beneath it, she wore a simple white lingerie set; fine lace stood out against the jagged lines on her back.
Gabriel's eyes moved over her, and for the first time, Diane saw something other than indifference in his eyes.
There was shock, yes, but also anger.
"Who did this to you?" he asked in a tight tone.
Diane exhaled slowly. "Richard," she muttered loudly.
"Your mentor. My stepmother's partner in crime. Whenever I didn't listen, whenever I defied him, he would... punish me. Sometimes with a belt. Sometimes with a whip. Whatever he had nearby."
Gabriel's jaw tightened, his hands clenched into fists so hard, he thought he would break it.
"And Adrian," she continued more bitterly. "He was no better. He used my fear of Richard to control me, to keep me quiet and obedient."
Gabriel continued looking at her. "You're telling me your father and Adrian... they—"
"Yes." Diane stepped closer. "And Richard isn't my father."
Gabriel gulped.
"And you? You never noticed. Or maybe you did, and you didn't care."
Gabriel flinched slightly at her words but said nothing.
She stood before him now, her gown hanging loosely around her hips, the scars on her back and shoulders exposed.
"I'm telling you this because I want you to understand. I've been through hell, Gabriel. And I've survived. But I don't want to hide anymore."
"Why tell me this now?"
Diane hesitated, then offered him a small, sad smile.
"Because I need your help. These scars... they're a part of me, but they don't define me. And you... you're a plastic surgeon. You can fix them, can't you?"
Gabriel blinked, caught off guard by her request. "You want me to...?"
"Yes," she replied simply. "I want them gone. I want to look in the mirror and see the woman I'm trying to become, not the one they tried to break."
He stared at her for a long moment, not knowing what to do exactly.
This wasn't what he was told.
Adrian had brainwashed him and told him that Diane loved pain. She enjoyed being beaten up by him or Richard.
But this... what Diane was saying... it all looked more realistic.
To her surprise, he leaned back in his chair and let out a soft laugh.
"You really are something else, aren't you?" Gabriel shook his head.
Diane raised an eyebrow. "Is that a yes?"
Gabriel sighed, running a hand through his damp hair.
"Fine. I'll do it. But not tonight. You've had enough for one day."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet," he muttered. "This doesn't change anything between us."
Diane nodded. "I wouldn't expect it to."
As she turned away, reaching for her gown to pull it back on, she caught Gabriel's reflection in the mirror.
He was watching her, staring at her scars with something that looked almost like regret.
For the first time, she wondered if Gabriel Frost might be capable of more than neglect.
And for the first time, she thought she might be able to use that to her advantage.
"Diane, wait..." Gabriel interrupted her, "don't pull it back...."