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.

relax. Communicate well with Mr.

back a smiley

my best. I won't

back in, carrying the medical

the chair so he could reach

a mask and fresh gloves, then carefully unwound the gauze that circled her

he clipped up her long hair to expose the

only asked his surgical assistant to shave a small patch during

dipped a cotton swab in

he asked,

forefinger pinching together in a tiny

his mask, his motions even gentler as he cleaned the

meticulous care made Jessica

she'd never let another man get this close to

reminded herself-Herbert was

it.

any other patient, he'd

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

Herbert steadied her as she

of soup-nothing solid, since her throat

so much. I don't know what I'd do without you -it would be so

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

the food container and handed it to