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?”

You should be proud. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been inspired to focus on this at all. Lately, I've heard from so many people who've regained their voices-thanks to you. You're their

kept trying to downplay everything, hoping Jessica wouldn't feel pressured

had never needed anything from her. Everything

Jessica's heart still clung to Timothy. The look in her eyes yesterday, when she gently wiped the blood from Timothy's lips, said it all-her love wasn't

loved Timothy, Herbert would still

love had never been about possession. It was about seeing her

his embrace. Someone who'd given so

felt like it couldn't

Sallie panicked.

worried that this moment would tip the scales-that Jessica would choose Herbert

she was afraid Timothy would lose

forward,

surprise. It

and sharp. "What are you

fine, but the Lawson family can pay him-teh times, a hundred times the

and she stumbled back onto a