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.

with Mr. Smith while you're abroad I

sent back

do my best. I won't

came back in,

on the chair so

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

he clipped up her

asked his surgical assistant to shave a small

swab in iodine and

he asked, "Does it hurt, Little

and forefinger pinching together in a tiny motion-just a

even gentler as he cleaned the wound, trying not to

made Jessica

another man get this close

she quickly reminded herself-Herbert was her doctor.

it.

other patient, he'd

only the incision, and

as she sat up. "You can

brought her another meal of soup-nothing solid, since her throat still wasn't

signed, "Herbert, thank you so much. I don't know what I'd do without you -it would be

you were a kid, you took care

container and handed it to her. "You