Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica shook her head and signed, "Don't tell anyone for now."

Herbert had said he could fix her voice, but she had no intention of spreading the news before she'd actually recovered.

That just wasn't her style.

If something went wrong and she didn't get better, she'd be the one left embarrassed.

"I'm guessing you don't want anyone else to know, either. Let me change your bandage and take off the gauze, so you won't have to fumble for answers if anyone gets nosy."

While Herbert went to get the medical kit, Jessica checked her phone. She had missed calls from Vince, and one from Ines.

Ines had sent a message, too, asking after her.

Jessica replied right away.

[Don't worry about me, Professor. I've arrived at Aetherion and everything is fine.]

She'd always been the type to share good news and keep troubles to herself.

The whole divorce ordeal-how could she possibly explain that in a few lines of text?

She would wait until she was back home for the court proceedings, then meet with her mentor in person and tell her everything. No need to make her worry now.

Ines replied quickly.

safe, I can relax. Communicate well with Mr. Smith while you're abroad

sent back a

I won't

back in, carrying the medical

on the chair so he could reach

unwound the gauze that circled her head a

clipped up her long hair to expose

only asked his surgical assistant

cotton swab in iodine and gently cleaned

voice, he asked, "Does it hurt,

hand, her thumb and forefinger pinching together in

his motions even gentler as he cleaned the wound, trying

care made

another man get this

was her doctor. She

it.

it were any other patient,

Herbert applied a fresh, small piece of gauze, covering only the incision, and let her

steadied her as she sat up. "You

soup-nothing solid, since her throat still wasn't fully

I'd do without you -it would be so hard on my

off. "Don't thank me. When you were a kid, you

container and handed it to her.