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.

Mr. Smith while you're abroad I look forward to seeing

back a

do my best. I

back in, carrying the

sideways on the chair

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

he clipped up her long hair to

hair, Herbert had only asked his surgical assistant to shave a

swab in iodine

a low voice, he asked, "Does

hand, her thumb and forefinger pinching together in

down his mask, his motions even gentler as he cleaned

made Jessica

let another man get this

quickly reminded herself-Herbert was

it.

patient, he'd

piece of gauze, covering only the incision, and let her hair

her as she sat up. "You can

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 so

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

and handed