SIGNED TO SURRENDER

Cracks In Glass Houses

Adele sat on her bed, her call with her brother still lingered in her mind.

He’d sounded... different. Lighter.

“Mum’s in the VIP ward now,” he had said, his voice shaking with relief. “She’s now receiving treatment, Addy.”

She had to bite her lip to keep from crying.

But she couldn’t hold her herself any longer she burst into tears

“You did this,” he added. “Whatever you’re doing… thank you.”

But what was she doing?

Her body still ached from the night Alexandra had come to her room. Not from pain, but from the emptiness of it. Like he had reached inside her and taken something intangible.

Later That Day

Adele wandered into the garden, needing air.

Although with the permission of Alexandra

“You can go but Don’t go towards the left wing and you have thirty minutes” he had said icily when she asked for his permission

The sky was silver with clouds, and the wind tugged at her gown . Flowers bloomed in neat rows, they looked orderly . She ran her fingers over the petals, trying to feel human again.

The scent from the flowers were soothing and the flowers looked beautiful

She was lost, Lost in her small world

“Careful,” came a voice behind her.

She turned around.

It was a woman—tall, elegant, wearing a designer coat and sunglasses despite the cloudy day. Her lips were painted blood red.

Her perfume was sharp,expensive and intoxicating. The kind that doesn't fade easily. Adele noticed the way she moved, like a model off duty and a predator in heels. Everything about her screamed a Warning.

“You must be Adele.”

“I—yes. Who are you?”

The woman stepped closer, smile too sharp to be friendly. My name is Lisa, “I’m a friend of Alexandra’s. Well... friend is a generous word. Let’s just say a very intimate part of Alexandra’s past.”

She circled Adele slowly, gaze ranking over her like she was a painting at an auction. One she doesn't quite believe was worth the price.

"Pretty, innocent. New",she murmured

Adele narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?”

The woman tilted her head. “To give you a little advice. Don’t fall for him. Don’t think you’re special. You’re not the first woman he’s brought into this house for a purpose.”

Adele’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t ask for advice.”

“No. But you’ll need it,” she said, stepping closer. “You think this ends with a baby and a check? Alexandra doesn’t let people walk away clean. "He leaves marks on everyone.”

Before Adele could respond, the woman walked off, heels clicking on stone.

Adele stood frozen for a few minutes, she wrapped her arms around herself, unsure whether it was the breeze or Lisa's word that made her shiver.

"He leaves marks on everyone ".

Adele wanted to shrug it off , label Lisa as bitter or jealous. But there's something in the woman's voice , it hadn't been desperation . It was a certainty.

Her thoughts spiraled. Was this what her life would look like afterward? A memory Alexandra will discard? Another body with a story no one would believe.

She looked down at the rose petals in her hand, crushed without realising.

She dropped them and slowly walked back towards the mansion.

— Lorenzo’s Study

Alexandra stood at his window, staring at the glowing city . His jacket was off, sleeves rolled, whiskey untouched beside him.

Lisa walked in seductively.

“What are you doing here Lisa”, he asked without turning

“You haven’t been picking my calls”

He finally turned , “And that’s not a good reason to show up here”,

I already told you this and am going to say it for the last time “I’M DONE WITH YOU, LISA” . Alexandra said coldly.

Is it because of her, Lisa asked.

Alex ignored her

Alex, have been with you for a whole year now and you want to just toss me away like I meant nothing Lisa said, almost crying.

“ You meant nothing “, he snapped.”

"You were a convenience, Lisa. A distraction dressed in dior.

She flinched, but he stepped closer, voice lower now

"I owe you nothing . We were never in love, we were silence between contracts. Don't make the mistake of thinking otherwise.

we had a deal. You kept me entertained, and I gave you everything else. That deal is over.” And now I said we are done, you should carefully walk away .

"And so you know I don't owe distractions loyalty or explanations".

Her eyes widened, voice cracking.”Because of her right?”

He stepped forward, his voice low and sharp. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be”.

"So this is how it ends"?.

"Lisa," he called, his voice dangerously soft now."what we had was silk tied over silence, the moment I needed clarity , I cut the cord.

And you have just 3 minutes to exit my property, Alex said.

You’re doing all this because of her right, newsflash am not going to leave you just like that she said and then left .

*Elsewhere in the mansion---midnight *

The lights in the mansion were dim.

In the servant's wing, someone moved with careful precision, a young housekeeper named Mira.

She moved through the wall with practiced ease,clutching a phone tightly in her pocket .

Her eyes flicked around as she entered the linen closet, closing the door behind her.

Her breathing hitched as she turned the phone on and typed quickly.

Message sent:

"He gave her access to the garden today. Small move, but not like him. Also she looked shaken after running into Lisa. He shut himself in the music room again. Master Trevor, He's slipping".

Trevor's Reply :

"Good, I want everything, the moment Alexandra’s slips, we move. And make sure that girl doesn't feel save".

Mira stared at the Message for a moment, then deleted it and slipped the phone back into her pocket .

Just as she slid her phone back into her pocket, footsteps echoed down the hall. Mira held her breathe.

But it was only a maid passing by, humming softly to herself.

Mira exhaled, adjusted her collar and slipped out like nothing had happened.

She stepped out into the hallway, her face blank again.

*A penthouse in the city*

Trevor stood before a massive window overlooking the skyline, a glass of wine in his hand,but his attention was on the phone in front of him.

He smirked as he read the message. His face was too smooth, too charming like a snake wearing a smile.

"Well , Well, Alexandra . You really brought her into your house?" He said to no one.

"You took everything from me, and now I'll return the favour".

He poured himself another drink , then added with quiet venom.

"One crack at a time "

Meanwhile — Adele’s Room

Adele stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep.

The woman’s words haunted her: He leaves marks. On everyone.

She wasn’t afraid. Not really.

But she was beginning to understand something dangerous.

Alexandra Lorenzo wasn’t just cold. He was cracked.

And cracks could be pried open.

And Adele wasn’t afraid of cracks. She had grown up in broken places.

If there was one thing she knew how to do, it was to find the softest part of something hard

And if Alexandra Lorenzo thought she was just a surrogate, he is about to learn the most dangerous lie of it all:

That some girls don't just carry children.

They carry fire.