That night Lionel left Martha at her home a bit worried about her

That night Lionel left Martha at her home a bit worried about her. But she didn't let him walked with her to the door, and neither, after what had happened in the limousine before the dance, they had kissed again or talked about it. She just went out and kissed his cheek before closed the door.

The next morning Martha woke up with some temperature and Clark prepare a tea for her. He took it at her room and he also told her that Lionel had called to know about her.

Martha: What did you say him?

Clark: The truth… that you were ill on bed…

Martha: Oh Clark! Come on! I said you to don't tell anything to him…. I'm sure that he's coming now…

And she was absolutely right, because at that moment somebody knocked the door… and it was Lionel Luthor, with a bunch of flowers.

When he entered to the room Clark went downstairs to let them alone.

Lionel: Martha, I… I'm sorry because…

Martha: You needn't to be sorry for anything, Lionel… We both should be happy because we find out our feelings, yesterday.

Lionel: Are you meaning that it was… that we are…? – He couldn't speak, he was so nervous.

Martha: Yeah… I'm meaning that my kisses were absolutely true… that I'm in love with you… and that I liked to start a serious relationship with you, Lionel.

Lionel: That's… That's great!! Me too!! I mean… I love you too!! And I want a relationship with you!! Sure I want!!

He hugged her and they kissed.

Lionel: When you get better we'll go out to celebrate it…

Martha: I'm already better… Can we go out now?

Lionel (laughing): Sure we can… but…

Martha: I'm fine… don't worry.

She kissed him and went out of the bed. She was just wearing a blue short nightdress which left her legs absolutely nude… Lionel turned round to don't see her completely nude while she dressed herself.

Martha: Clark!? – asked Martha when they went downstairs.

Clark: In the kitchen, mum…

Martha: Clark… I'm going out with Lionel… ok? I'm better…

Clark: Are you sure?

Martha: Absolutely – she smiled.

Lionel: I will take care of her… don't worry…

Suddenly the phone rang and Clark took it.

Clark: Yeah?... No, here's nobody with that name… I'm sure Mr., there's nobody here called Serena…

Martha: What?! – she had turned pale.

Clark removed the phone from his ear…

Clark: There's a man who insisted on that there's a woman called Serena here… and I'm… Mum?!

Martha had fainted and it was Lionel who took her before fell on the floor.

Clark put down the phone without say anything else to the man on the other side…

When Martha came back to herself she was lied down on the sofa. She listened to Clark and Lionel speaking with another man, she sat down and looked at the door, and she saw the doctor going out.

Clark closed the door and Lionel was the first to walk to the living room and saw Martha woke up.

Lionel: Martha!

Clark: Mum! I'm glad to see you back again…

Martha: What happened?

Lionel: You fainted…

Martha: I fainted?! … I don't remember it…

Clark: So… you did… and you worried us. But the doctor said it's nothing… he said that you may be worried about something…

Lionel: Are you going to tell us, dear?

Martha: I'm not worried for anything – she lied – I'm fine. Trust me.

Lionel: Well… I hope you're saying the truth… because I have a meeting and I will not go if you aren't ok.

Matha: I'm great. Don't worry… go to work…

Lionel: Ok… see you later… - he kissed her cheek and left.

Clark left later, too, because he had classes at the afternoon that day. When he went out his mother was asleep at the sofa.

The door's bell woke up Martha, who found herself alone at the house. She got up and walked to the door. Asked who was there, but nobody answered. She opened the door, and at the other side there was a known face; it was John, Lionel's friend.

Martha: John!

John: Hello, I hope to not come on a bad moment.

Martha: Oh… No! Come in. What's the matter? Lionel's not here…

John: I know… but I came to visit you…

Martha: Me?

John: Sure… Serena.

Martha turned pale again and had to hold on the table to not fell fainted again.

John: Are you ok?

Martha: It was you who rang before!

John: Right, it was me.

Martha: What… what does it mean? What do you want? Why did you came?

He was walking by her back trying to keep herself away from him, who was walking towards her.

John: I came because you didn't take the phone and I really wanted to talk with you.

Martha: What fuck do you want?

John: Have some fun… like when we met the first time…

Martha: We…?

John: Yeah… I used to go there… I found you really pretty. That's why I knew you… I told you yesterday that I knew your face…

Martha: Get out of here! – Martha had broken down… but she was making hard herself to not cry.

John: I'm sure that Lionel knows nothing about that… does he?

Martha: He doesn't…

John: And I'm sure that you don't want him to know it…

Martha noticed the wall at her back and John was continuing walking towards her. She looked around, at her left there was the kitchen, so, the backdoor.

He put himself in front of hers and put his hands against the wall, at the way that Martha's head was in the middle of them. She could feel his breath on her chin, and he could feel her frightened.

Martha: Get out of here. – She said calmly.

But he ignored her and kissed her lips, she pushed him away and run to the backdoor. She had already opened it when he came behind and closed it. Then he took Martha and pushed her against the kitchen furniture. She opened a drawer to take a knife, but he closed it and hurt her hand, then he slapped her and she felt on the floor.

John: If you really don't want Lionel to know about your little secret, it would be better for you to be a good girl and obey me, ok?

John leaped on Martha and began to grope her while he licked her neck.

Martha didn't know what to do. She didn't to bear that, but she neither wanted Lionel to know about that moment of her life. Meanwhile he still touching her body, kissing her skin, and searching something under her clothes. Finally she tried to push him away from her, but he forced her, and could hold her hands against the floor. He had her immobilized under him and then he punched Martha and her lip started to bleed.

John: What fuck is going on you, ah? You used to enjoy these things, dear…

Martha: That was a long time ago… Things have changed… I never was that girl…

John: Of course you were! And you still being her… I will prove it to you…

He hold harder her hands and kissed her, while she tried to release from him, in vain.

Meanwhile, Clark arrived home earlier because his last class had been cancelled. He saw a strange car in front the house and looked inside throw the windows looking for his mother. She wasn't at the living room, where he left her… he walked to the kitchen, still outside, and throw the window saw his mother being attacked by a man!!

Clark knocked down the backdoor and entered to the kitchen. He took the man, with just one hand, and threw him against the wall.

Martha sat up with her back against the kitchen's furniture trying to avoid her son's look. The man was unconscious on the floor. Clark sat down in front of her and stared to her blue eyes. He caressed her hair and she broke down and began to cry. Then Clark hugged her.

Clark: It's over, mum. I'm sorry… I shouldn't let you alone…

Martha: It's fine, sweetheart… don't worry.

Clark: He couldn't do you anything… did he?

Martha: He didn't honey… you arrived on time… you arrived just on time…

When Martha was calmer, Clark helped her to stand up and took her to the sofa, to rest a little. He tied the man, who was beginning to wake up, and rang the police to ask them to come and took him.

While Clark was phoning the police Martha went to the kitchen, when Clark had tied up John.

Martha: Ok… listened to me… this is the new deal… I untied you and you run away from here, and you keep the secret.

John: And do you trust me?

Martha: No… but I haven't any choice.

John left the house and Martha returned to the living room. Then, Clark come back.

Martha: So… are the police coming?

Clark: No.

Martha: Why?!

Clark: Because you left him go away…

Martha didn't answer.

Clark: What's going on you, mum? A man enters the farm and tries to rape you… and you let him go out!? What does it mean?

Martha: I… - she didn't know what to say.

Clark: Yeah?

Martha: Nothing! It means nothing! And it's nothing going on me! Let me alone!
Martha went upstairs and Clark followed her, but she closed the door and he let her alone, as she had said. She just sat down on her bed and cried.

Lionel arrived after his meeting. He found Clark putting the backdoor on its place.

Lionel: What happened here?

Clark: My mum was attacked.

Lionel: What?! Where is she? Is she ok?

Clark: I arrived here and a man was trying to rape her. But she's ok, she just has some injuries… she's on her room.

Lionel walked into the house.

Clark: But… Lionel!

Lionel: Yeah?

Clark: There's something more… I took the man, and I tied him up until the police arrived… but she… my mother… she untied him… she let him go…

Lionel: She did what?! Why?

Clark: I don't know… I can't either understand…

Lionel knocked Martha's door.

Marta: Yeah?! – She still crying.

Lionel: It's me, Martha. Clark told me what happened… I… I just want to know how you are…

Martha: I'm fine.

Lionel: Martha, please… we found out our feelings… isn't this enough to begin to be more confidence between us? – He got no answer – Martha? Who was that man? Did you know him? Did he threaten you?

Martha: Get out!

Lionel: No, Martha… I'm not anywhere… it doesn't matter if you don't want to speak with me… I will stay here – and he sat down on the corridor's floor with his back against her door – until you tell me what's going on. Because I'm sure that your sickness of this morning and the accident of today have a connection.

Martha: Go away!

Lionel started to hum a song, and… it was midnight and Lionel still sitting on the corridor and Martha in her room. Clark took him some coffee and sat down with him.

Lionel: Martha?! Do you still awake? We have some coffee if you want… but you have to go out.

Clark: I could knock down the door, Lionel… Why have we to stay here? It's too late.

Lionel: Because it's your mother, and we love her… and we could treat her as a criminal… We have to wait until she feels prepared to tell us what's going on…

It was nearly three o'clock in the morning when Martha opened her room door. She had been crying and thinking for hours, and she couldn't care that situation more time.

She opened the door carefully and Lionel and Clark stood up immediately. Her eyes were red and her skin was pale. She spoke with a low voice.

Marta: Ok… I have to tell you something…

She invite them to went into her room. She sat on the bed with a box next to her. Clark sat on the chair, and Lionel sat in front of her.

Martha: Let me say you that this is something about I'm not proud. I hided it very carful and I never thought on that moment… I sill understand if after tell you it, you both change the view you have of me… and also your feelings towards me…

Clark: Mum! You will always be my mother!

Lionel: And I could never change my feelings towards you…

Marta: We will see… ok… let's go…

TO BE CONTINUED…