Goodbye, Mr. Regret

She must have fought back with everything she had-so fiercely, so desperately, that her voice was damaged all over again, the strain turning into a fresh infection. And yet, when he saw her, she just smiled at him, gentle as always.

She swallowed all her pain in silence, bearing it alone.

Herbert felt like he was about to lose his mind.

Thud, thud, thud-

A knock sounded at the door.

Herbert quickly took off his glasses, turned on the faucet, and splashed water onto his tear-stained face. After drying off, he stepped out.

Jessica was waiting just outside the bathroom, her hands fluttering in anxious sign language: "You were in there for so long-I thought something happened to you."

She fixed her gaze on his eyes, pausing in surprise. "Why are your eyes so red?" He could wash away the tears, but not the redness.

He forced a faint smile. "I was trying out contact lenses. Guess I'm not used to them-my eyes got irritated."

"Then don't wear contacts," Jessica replied, smiling back. "I think you look handsome in glasses anyway."

The glasses suited him. They softened the edge he'd carried as a teenager, transforming his whole presence into something calmer, more approachable.

And that, Jessica had always hoped for.

him get into fights-no matter how skilled he was,

no more contacts,”

switch to contacts. He was tired of hiding behind a mask, tired of being the Herbert his parents wanted to

Little Mute ought he looked good in

worried, asked if her throat injury would affect her ability to

With a few days of rest, you'll be fine. You've just arrived in Aetherion Mr. Smith won't rush you straight into work Tomorrow, I'll schedule you for a minor procedure. After that, you'll need a little time to recover, but once your throat heals, you

Jessica finally relaxed enough to ask what had happened

against The Wheeler

wanted to bring you home. If he'd gone after The Wheeler Group, it would

Mute,

don't have

any of this.

at the helm-they won't let anything happen to The

Jessica nodded.

to pick up

"}