Clark Felt a Little Crushed

"I thought you'd made Smallville your home and completely forgotten your family in Metropolis."

Lionel Luthor, Lex's father, lay in his hospital bed as he spoke to Lex, who stood beside it.

"I don't revolve around you in everything. I have my own life. Besides, hadn't you always considered sending your son off to some remote small town a test meant to temper his character?"

Although Lex had rushed to Metropolis Hospital as soon as he received news of his father's assassination attempt, there was clearly nothing affectionate about his attitude toward him.

"The doctor said you were stabbed in the shoulder and back. While no organs were damaged, you still need at least two months of rest. I think you'd be better off talking less."

Lex spoke to his father in an even tone.

"Heh."

Despite his injuries, Lionel's voice remained powerful. "So you think I used to talk too much?"

"I'm not that childish. We both have our own lives, don't we?"

"Is that why you've been fooling around with that woman?"

Lionel said to his son, "Sir Harry has coveted Luthor Company for a long time. His daughter is using the only card she has to toy with you, yet you willingly let yourself fall for it, Lex. I'm deeply disappointed in you."

"This has nothing to do with business dealings. What happened between Victoria and me is purely private." Lex frowned.

"Nothing to do with business? No one but you would think that. Everything is a chain extending from business. Once the Harry family is involved, it becomes tied to 'business.' That woman is distracting you."

"Luthor Company is yours, not mine."

Lex had no intention of continuing the argument with his father. He walked to the window, keeping his gaze from meeting Lionel's.

"An empire does not collapse because of external forces, but because its internal weaknesses are breached."

Lionel tried to keep the sharpness from his voice. "Lex, if you break with your family, then you will become truly alone."

Lex did not argue further. He merely stared out into the night, his eyes growing deeper.

"Let's talk about your injuries instead, Father."

After a moment of silence, Lex turned around. "Was this an assassination attempt by one of your business rivals, or did you accidentally get caught in a street-side bank robbery shootout?!"

"That is none of your concern. There will always be petty people trying to make me submit through such methods, but they do not understand that fear and death will not make a strong man submit. Only power will!"

Lionel replied in a steady voice.

"I heard..."

Lex hesitated before saying, "The assassin seems to be connected to the so-called Owl Council, an organization lurking in the shadows that controls Metropolis's political and economic lifelines."

"Where did you hear that name?"

Lionel's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly concealed it.

"I have my own methods and channels," Lex replied. "Sorry, but I can't tell you."

"I don't know where you heard of such an organization, but let me tell you, I have never heard that name before."

Lionel's expression became grave. "The Luthor family has had roots in Metropolis for generations, yet there has never been the slightest record of any so-called Owl Council. Lex, if an enemy disguises itself with fear, then tear away that disguise instead of drowning in the fear it creates."

"In the end, you'll find that it is nothing more than a shadow on the wall."

"Mm-hm."

Lex nodded. "Or I could choose to become fear myself."

"I have things to do. I'm leaving first."

With a brief gesture toward his father, Lex turned to leave.

"Lex!"

Lionel called after him from the hospital bed. "For your own safety, I suggest you stay in Metropolis. Those assassins were not targeting me alone, but the entire Luthor family."

"Thank you for your concern, but I know how to protect myself."

Lex rejected his father's suggestion that he remain in Metropolis.

"If you choose not to stay in Metropolis, I will assign you the most professional bodyguards available. Do not refuse, Lex. You no longer have room to refuse."

Lex stood silently for several seconds after hearing his father's words, then turned and left.

The next day.

Kent Farm.

"Where's the leftover pizza?"

Clark wore headphones, listening to his favorite rock music as he asked his mother, Martha.

"Second shelf of the refrigerator. Be careful not to knock over the chili con carne."

Martha replied to Clark.

Seeing that he had not reacted at all, Martha stood up, walked to the refrigerator, and took off Clark's headphones.

"Clark, did you hear what I said?"

"Of course. The pizza's on the second shelf. Don't knock over the nuclear chili con carne." Clark repeated his mother's words.

"I'm glad your hearing hasn't been damaged."

Martha straightened Clark's collar and smiled faintly.

"Where's Eric?"

After fixing Clark's collar, Martha realized she had not seen her younger son in quite some time.

"He's helping Dad fix the car's exhaust pipe."

Clark shrugged.

A few minutes later, Eric and Clark stood in front of the old Ford, saying goodbye to their parents.

Jonathan and Martha were going to Metropolis for a three-day honeymoon to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

As for Eric and Clark, they could only stay behind to watch over the farm so they would not disturb their parents' sweet time together.

"Clark, Eric, I left the inn's phone number on the bedside table. If you run into trouble, remember to call."

Martha reluctantly reminded them.

"They're already young men, Martha. You have to have faith in them, don't you?"

Jonathan walked over with a smile and patted Eric and Clark on the shoulders.

"I almost forgot."

Clark seemed to remember something. He pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to his mother. "This is my gift. Happy anniversary!"

Martha was delighted to receive it. She came over and hugged Clark. "Thank you, Clark."

Standing to the side, Eric also handed over the gift he had prepared in advance. "Happy anniversary!"

His gift was a sample copy of an unpublished Cthulhu book sent to him by the publisher. After wrapping it with a ribbon, he gave it to them as a present.

Although he did not care much about holidays and such, he had still made a special effort because this was an important day for his parents.

"Oh, what an exquisite gift. Jonathan and I love it. Thank you, Eric."

Martha accepted the present and happily came over to hug Eric.

Clark, standing nearby and chewing on pizza, suddenly felt like the pizza in his mouth had lost all its flavor.

Compared with Eric's exquisite gift, wasn't his crumpled greeting card a little shabby?!

Thanks to "Reader 1455147117727412224" for the tip.

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