Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Herbert."

Jessica's voice broke as she interrupted him, her words trembling with emotion. "Why are you so foolish?"

"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving the Wheeler family?"

"Why didn't you ever mention you'd spent seven years researching aphasia for my sake?"

"You came back to find me just to help me get better, didn't you?"

Herbert's eyes darkened, his expression freezing for a few seconds. Then, awkwardly, he forced a smile. "Who put that nonsense in your head? Whoever told you must be trying to upset you."

Sallie, overhearing the exchange, was completely stunned.

It was Herbert who had spent seven years researching Jessica's aphasia-and cured her?

Tears spilled down Jessica's cheeks. She shook her head. "No one told me. I saw the news about you leaving the Wheeler family. Just now, I overheard the nurses talking about the scientist who spent seven years on aphasia research. That's when I realized it was you. Herbert, you've done so much for me. How could I ever repay you?”

should be proud. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been inspired to

downplay everything, hoping Jessica wouldn't feel

needed anything from her. Everything he'd done, he'd done

heart still clung to Timothy. The look in her eyes

she loved Timothy, Herbert would still wish

had never been about possession. It

his embrace. Someone who'd given so much for her deserved at

felt like

Sallie panicked.

moment would tip the scales-that Jessica would choose

gave up on Timothy, she was afraid Timothy would lose his

forward, but

turned in surprise. It

was cold and sharp. "What

helped her, fine, but the Lawson family can pay him-teh times, a hundred times the medical bilts, whatever

Sallie aside, and she stumbled back onto a