Return Of The Heiress For Revenge - Chapter 490

Chapter 490: Only A Friend!
Lisa stepped closer before Max could say another word. Her arm curled around his like it belonged there. She leaned into him, her voice suddenly low, playful.

“You didn’t forget what we had, did you?” she murmured, her fingers brushing against his chest. “All those late nights, your hands on me while pretending you were already asleep?”

Max stiffened under the touch. He did not move for a long time. His eyes linger on natalie.

Natalie stood frozen at the edge of the room. She tried to look away, tried to remind herself that she didn’t belong here—didn’t have the right to feel anything. But the sight of Lisa’s hand resting so casually on Max, the way her voice curled around memories that Natalie would never be part of—it was too much.

Her chest tightened.

“I should… leave you two to talk,” she said quickly, voice clipped.

Max looked up, instinct pulling at him the moment he saw the shift in her face. “Natalie—wait—”

But she was already moving, grabbing her phone from the counter, fingers shaking just enough to betray the calm she was trying to wear.

Lisa tightened her grip on Max’s arm, her voice still soft, but laced with something darker. “Let her go. She’s just a guest, Max. You don’t owe her anything.”

But Max wasn’t looking at Lisa.

His eyes were still on Natalie.

He didn’t speak, didn’t follow. But his mind was already gone to her.every part of him screamed that he should.

Lisa sensed it. Her fingers curled tighter. “You are really going to run after her?” she whispered, tilting her face up toward his. “While I am standing right here? After everything we were?”

Max swallowed hard, torn between the past and the present, between the woman who once knew him well enough to manipulate him. and the one who knew almost nothing but trusted him anyway.

He didn’t answer. But Lisa felt a burst of envy in her chest. Even if she was playing with Max, how could he betray her like this? Her eyes showed hatred but it was gone before it could come.

Natalie paused at the door, her back still to them.

“I’ll be in the guest room,” she said, without turning around. “Don’t worry. I won’t be in the way.”

And then she was gone.

Max let out a breath, slow and tight, like something inside him had cracked. Lisa leaned her head against his shoulder, but he didn’t respond. His arms stayed limp at his sides.

Max gently loosened Lisa’s grip from his arm, careful not to let the shift seem too abrupt. But the unease was already creeping into his chest—tight and unwelcome. He couldn’t shake the look on Natalie’s face as she turned away. That quiet retreat. The hurt she hadn’t voiced.

“This way,” he said softly, guiding Lisa toward the dining area. “Have a seat. I will make us some coffee.”

Lisa let go with a small pout but followed, her heels clicking softly against the wood. She slid into one of the dining chairs with practiced ease, crossing her legs and folding her hands neatly on the table.

“You are always the perfect host,” she said sweetly, watching him with unreadable eyes. “I almost forgot how good you are at playing the calm doctor.”

Max forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll be back in a second.”

He turned toward the kitchen, grabbing the mugs, letting the water boil, but his thoughts were far from the coffee. He could still feel Natalie’s silence.

And Lisa… something was wrong with his feelings. He should be worried about Lisa, not Natalie. His fingers curled and he let go of a deep breath.

Behind him, the soft sound of a chair moving scraped lightly across the floor.

Lisa.

She was already gone from the table.

In the guest room, Natalie sat curled near the window, trying to focus on her phone screen, but her mind kept slipping back to the image of Max and Lisa together. That quiet chemistry. That familiarity.

She had no claim over him. No right to feel anything. But the ache was still there.

Suddenly, the door creaked. She turned.

Lisa stood in the doorway, her phone held loosely in one hand, the other tucking her hair behind her ear. “Sorry,” she said with a smile. “Just needed some privacy to make a call. Signal terrible in the hallway.”

Natalie nodded stiffly. “It’s okay.”

Lisa stepped just inside, pretending to scroll as she tilted her phone slightly. She angled it—just right—capturing Natalie’s profile with a single, silent tap.

Click.

A blurred image of a young woman with wary eyes and a protective energy. Enough for Chris to know. Enough to confirm everything.

Lisa smiled, slipping her phone back into her bag. “You are so beautiful Nora.” she said, voice syrupy. “No wonder he’s been so distracted.”

Natalie didn’t answer.

Something about the woman’s tone made her skin crawl.

Just as Natalie was about to turn back toward the window, Lisa tilted her head with a sudden, sweet smile.

“Come have coffee with us,” she said lightly. “Max looked a little guilty when you walked off like that. Poor guy probably thinks he upset you.”

Natalie hesitated. “I’m fine. Besides, why do you need a third feeling when you are dating!”

Lisa stepped closer, gently but firmly slipping her arm around Natalie’s. “Nonsense. It’s just coffee. Don’t make it more awkward than it already is.”

Before Natalie could protest again, Lisa was already steering her out of the room.

Max was just placing the mugs down on the dining table when they walked back in. He straightened in surprise, eyes landing on Natalie—and a flicker of relief crossed his face. That quiet exhale that betrayed how much he’d noticed her absence.

“You’re back,” he said, voice softer now.

Natalie gave a small, unsure smile. “Lisa insisted.”

Lisa gave a light laugh and slid into her seat, tugging Natalie gently into the chair opposite her before leaning toward Max. “I do not want things to be tense. If you are helping her, she is also my friend. right?”