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."

but their exercises had kept

yours spent seven years developing the treatment for aphasia? But you

but I helped out with the experiments all the time. I know the treatment inside and out. Otherwise,

that was the

think I ever paid you for the

hospital. Why would I charge

just take all your help

"If

keep being so polite, I'll

but to let the

long it would be

said. "Don't

another surgery, and

had given her

lost her

to help. Now, he was

she'd never given him anything in

hailed a cab to the nearest shopping

for Herbert, so she headed straight for the men's

and accessories. But ties, cufflinks, belts-those were so common, and didn't feel

men's gifts always seemed to come down to