Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 391

She had found her voice again, though it was still soft and uncertain.

Jessica remembered what it felt like to speak-she used to talk all the time. But now, her vocal cords felt clumsy, her words shaky and imprecise.

Herbert patiently guided her. At first, he read aloud and had her repeat after him, keeping the pace slow and deliberate. Gradually, he encouraged her to keep up with his natural rhythm, reciting together.

After a few rounds, Jessica could feel a hint of progress her words were just a little clearer, her throat just a little stronger.

She'd never seen Herbert work like this before-so focused, so meticulous. It struck her that he was really, truly exceptional.

After about twenty minutes, Herbert stopped. He handed her a small bottle of

throat spray.

"Here, spray this."

This was a soothing formula he'd made just for her, designed to protect her recovering vocal cords. After each practice session, it eased the discomfort and helped begin the healing process.

Jessica tried it, feeling a cool, refreshing sensation in her throat-relief spreading almost instantly.

She set the bottle down and signed, "What kind of medicine is this?"

"I made it myself," Herbert replied with a smile. "Just use it as needed."

exercises had kept her too busy to ask until

say a friend of yours spent seven years developing the treatment for aphasia?

My friend was leading the research, but I helped out with the experiments all the time. I know the treatment inside and out. Otherwise, I wouldn't have dared operate on you myself. You wanted your voice back so badly-I couldn't risk your safety. If

that was

don't think I ever paid

hospital. Why would

can't just take all

"If

being so polite, I'll get

choice but to let

long it would be before she could have

your recovery goes," Herbert said. "Don't worry. I'll

called away for another surgery,

had given her the

she lost her

had always been there to help. Now, he was treating her

given

her gratitude, Jessica hailed a cab to the

Herbert, so she

clothing and accessories. But ties, cufflinks, belts-those were so common, and didn't feel quite right for a male

down to the same few choices-tie pins, razors,