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.

[As long as you're safe, I can relax. Communicate well with Mr. Smith while you're abroad I look forward to seeing your work.]

Jessica sent back a smiley face.

[I'll do my best. I won't let you down.]

Herbert came back in, carrying the medical box.

He asked Jessica to turn sideways on the chair so he could reach her head.

He put on a mask and fresh gloves, then carefully unwound the gauze that circled her head a couple of times.

Using a hairpin, he clipped up her long hair to expose the incision.

To spare her hair, Herbert had only asked his surgical assistant to shave a small patch during the procedure.

He dipped a cotton swab in iodine and gently cleaned the wound.

In a low voice, he asked, "Does it hurt, Little Mute?"

Jessica lifted her hand, her thumb and forefinger pinching together in a tiny motion-just a little.

Herbert pulled down his mask, his motions even gentler as he cleaned the wound, trying not to cause her pain.

His meticulous care made Jessica tense involuntarily.

Other than Timothy, she'd never let another man get this close to her.

But she quickly reminded herself-Herbert was her doctor. She couldn't overthink

it.

If it were any other patient, he'd be just as careful.

When he was done, Herbert applied a fresh, small piece of gauze, covering only the incision, and let her hair fall back into place. You'd hardly know she'd just had minor surgery.

"All done." Herbert steadied her as she sat up. "You can eat now."

He'd brought her another meal of soup-nothing solid, since her throat still wasn't fully healed.

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

He waved her off. "Don't thank me. When you were a kid, you took care of me more than enough." He

opened the food container and handed it to her. "You really don't

need to thank me-what I've done so

faris hardly enough. Eat up."

Jessica was halfway through her meal when her phone rang. Glancing at the screen and seeing Vince's name, she handed the phone to

Herbert, indicating she wanted him

to answer for her.

Herbert smiled knowingly.

It seemed there weren't any secrets between Little Mute and Vince-otherwise,

she wouldn't so casually let him take the call.

Herbert pressed answer.

"Jessy?"noveldrama

"It's me," he replied.

Vince immediately recognized his voice. "You're with her?"

"Yeah."

Vince could hear the faint note of satisfaction in Herbert's tone-the sort of subtle

pride that made it clear he saw Vince as a rival.