Return Of The Heiress For Revenge - Chapter 488

Chapter 488: Who Is At Fault?
Natalie’s fingers tightened on the edge of the door, her heart thudding in her chest. She had hesitated for a long time to open the door but the girl kept pressing the bell with a look of irritation.

The woman on the other side was beautiful—tall, polished, effortlessly put together in a way Natalie hadn’t been in months. Her eyes narrowed the moment they landed on Natalie’s face.

“You’re… not his sister,” the woman said slowly.

Natalie shook her head, forcing her voice past the knot in her throat. “No. I’m—just staying here. Who are you?”

The woman blinked, and then her expression hardened. “I’m Lisa. Max’s girlfriend. Or… at least I was the last time I checked.”

Natalie’s breath caught. Girlfriend?

Lisa crossed her arms, looking past Natalie into the house. Her voice was sharp, but it trembled with restrained confusion. “Who are you?”

Natalie stepped aside, cautious but not rude. “You can come in, if you want. Max’s at the hospital. I was just… helping around the house.”

Lisa stepped in, her heels clicking against the newly laid wooden floor. She scanned the living room—half-furnished, boxes half-unpacked, cushions still in plastic wrapping.

“You moved in?” Lisa’s voice was quiet, but heavy with something sharp.

Natalie swallowed, closing the door gently behind them. “No. I’m just… staying here for a while. It’s complicated.”

Lisa turned to her, studying her closely now. “You’re not just some friend. He’s never had anyone else here ever.”

Natalie straightened her spine despite the tremble still in her limbs. “We met recently. He offered to help me. That’s all.”

Lisa took a slow breath. “He didn’t tell me anything. Not about you, not about helping anyone. And now I show up unannounced and find a strange woman in his house?”

Natalie’s voice came out quieter than she liked. “I didn’t know about you.”

Silence stretched between them.

Then Lisa’s lips curved into something bitter. “Of course you didn’t. That’s Max. Always trying to save someone. Always forgetting who gets left behind in the process.”

The silence was broken by the faint buzz of Natalie’s phone on the counter. A message from Alric.

“Chris tried again. Stay inside. Don’t open the door unless it’s Max or my men.”

Natalie’s blood ran cold.

Lisa, watching her carefully, caught the look on her face. “What’s going on?”

Natalie hesitated… and for the first time, she realized she wasn’t sure whether to lie or tell the truth. This woman, however complicated, knew Max. She might have been part of his past—but maybe she also deserved part of the truth.

She met Lisa’s gaze. “There’s someone dangerous looking for me. Max offered me protection. That’s why I’m here.”

Natalie watched Lisa with wary eyes as she wandered further into the house, taking in the unpacked boxes and faint scent of fresh wood polish. Lisa had stopped asking questions, her expression smoothing into something unreadable. Too smooth.

Natalie couldn’t put her finger on it, but something felt… off.

Lisa turned, flashing a polite smile. “You don’t have to be nervous. I’m not here to cause trouble.” She moved toward the sofa and sat down casually, crossing one leg over the other. “I’ll just wait here for Max.”

Natalie hesitated. “You want me to tell him you’re here?”

Lisa waved a hand. “No need. I’ll surprise him.” Her tone was breezy, light—but her eyes were sharp and calculating. “It’s been a while since we talked. I figured, since I was in the area…”

Natalie didn’t respond. She walked back into the kitchen slowly, picking up her phone again, pretending to check a message—but her thoughts were spinning.

Why hadn’t Max mentioned Lisa? Why did she show up now, without calling? And why did her gaze keep flicking around the house like she was trying to memorize it?

Natalie’s fingers hovered over her screen. She typed a message to Alric.

“Lisa is here. She says she’s Max’s girlfriend. She’s acting weird.”

Then she deleted it.

What if she was just overreacting?

Lisa called out from the living room, voice light. “Did Max tell you about the little scar he has above his left knee? He got it recently to save me from a road accident.”

Natalie blinked. “No, he didn’t mention it.”

Lisa laughed softly. “He’s quiet like that. Keeps parts of himself locked away. You have to really get close to see them.”

It was subtle, but the message was clear: You don’t know him like I do.

Natalie stepped out from the kitchen, her tone steady now. “How long were you two together?”

Lisa shrugged. “Ony months, but it felt like an eternity had passed.”

“Please do not mind me. I just didn’t expect someone else living here. That’s all,” Lisa said sweetly.

Natalie smiled, but her eyes didn’t. “You don’t seem all that surprised.”

Before Lisa could answer, the front door opened—and Max stepped inside, his scrubs still wrinkled from the long shift, hair slightly tousled. He froze the moment he saw them both.

His eyes flicked from Natalie to Lisa. “What’s going on?”

Lisa stood smoothly, moving toward him with practiced ease. “Max! I thought I’d surprise you.”

Natalie watched him closely.

And she saw it—his entire body stiffened. His expression shifted instantly into something guarded.

“Lisa,” he said. Not warm. Not cold. Just… careful. “What are you doing here?”

Lisa glanced at Natalie and then back at Max, the smile still fixed on her lips. “I wanted to see you. It’s been too long.”

Max’s gaze darted to Natalie—just for a second—but it was enough. A silent check. Are you okay?

Natalie gave a faint nod and he slowly smiled.

“You could have come to the hospital. Why did you come home when you know I do not return till late!” she watched him and then watched natalie shifting.

“Why? Are you afraid that I would misunderstand your relationship with Natalie?” her voice accusative, “you did not even tell me that you are living alone with a girl, Max. and now you are accusing me as if i am at fault?”