Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica believed that life should always hold a spark of hope.

She knew she couldn't give up on fighting cancer. It was just like her struggle with aphasia; at first, she'd resigned herself to never speaking again, but then-out of nowhere she'd found a breakthrough.

Maybe there could be a miracle for her cancer, too.

If she could buy herself more time, there were still so many things she wanted to do.

Herbert hadn't expected that Mr. Smith would personally reach out to Jessica.

Naturally, when Jessica decided to go through with it, Herbert was fully supportive.

He was grateful Jessica had told him about it first; otherwise, Mr. Smith might have accidentally let something slip about his own situation.

"That's fine," Herbert said. “I actually need to travel to Aetherion for work soon, so I can take you to see the doctor myself or Mr. Smith could bring you, whichever works."

Later, Herbert checked Jessica's throat, gauging her progress, and reminded her of the essential points for her speech therapy exercises.

Jessica still needed to coordinate her trip with Mr. Smith, so she told Herbert she'd be heading out. Not wanting to hold her up, Herbert asked quickly how she planned to handle the divorce.

care of the follow-up,

didn't keep her any longer and encouraged

his office, Herbert

a close eye on the animation industry. He hoped to build connections that might help pave

animation world-and Herbert had even invested in one of his films-the

detail. Mr. Smith was stunned. "You're telling me you and Tim's wife go way

seven years I spent researching aphasia-don't tell her

"Are you secretly in love

a little sheepish. "Did you have to say it

mean, what can I say? We Westerners don't beat around the bush. If

shadow crossed

just has a twisted

thing,

Herbert finally said. "Let's talk about it some

you know, she and Tim might be getting divorced. I have to admit, I'm kind of taken with her too. Once