Then
The farm was comfort. Whenever Clark returned home to visit his
parents, a feeling of complete safety enveloped him. This was the only
place in the world where he could be himself and not worry about his
secret being uncovered.
"So, are you going to talk about what's bothering you?" It was also
the only place where he couldn't get away with brooding. Clark smiled
as his mother handed him the last plate to dry. She always brought
out the good china whenever Clark came home for the weekend and hated
to put them in the dishwasher for fear that they would get chipped.
"Chloe is dating Lex." Clark carefully dried the plate and put it
away in the cupboard. He wished he could fling across the room and
watch it smash into little pieces against the wall, but he doubted that
his mother would appreciate it. Martha Kent didn't tolerate temper
tantrums, especially when they were vented using her grandmother's
china.
"That's been happening for a few months." Martha pulled the plug to
let the dirty water drain and dried her hands on Clark's towel. She
gave her son a sympathetic smile and touched his cheek. "I love Chloe,
but you know, it would be easier if you fell for these girls before
they had boyfriends."
"I don't love Chloe like that, Mom. We're just friends. I just
thought she would have seen through Lex by now. He's going to hurt
her." Clark frowned. Chloe was so smart, why couldn't she figure out
that Lex was using her. That he wanted her because she was a part of
Clark's life and for some reason, Lex was obsessed with having
everything that Clark had.
"You don't know that." Martha bit her lip and shot a cautious look at
her son. "It could be that you're confusing what happened between you,
Lex, and Lana with Chloe's relationship with Lex. He could love her
and if Chloe is happy...."
"Lex doesn't know how to love, Mom. He only knows how to possess
things and people." Clark slapped the damp towel against his thigh.
"He won't be happy until he owns Chloe and then he'll throw her away
like he has with all his other conquests. She may be happy now, but
she'll be miserable later." Clark couldn't let that happen. Somehow
he had to convince Chloe to throw Lex away first.
*****
Life had a funny way of taking surreal twists. Lex sipped at his
champagne as he watched Chloe talking to Senator Carmichael and her
husband. She was probably trying to pin down the Senator's position
on the cut in daycare funding or something like that, but whatever it
was, Lex would tell she was charming the hell out of them. She had
charmed everyone in his social circle, even his father liked her once
they got past his sexual advances. Lex smiled as he remembered walking
into his father's study to find Lionel Luthor with an angry red mark
on his cheek and the contents of a wine glass splashed in his face and
down his shirt. Chloe was in the middle of a tirade about how Lionel
should respect his son and her. Despite this incident, Lionel seemed
to approve of Chloe and hadn't interfered further in their
relationship. She was amazing and Lex couldn't believe that Chloe was
still in his life, that she tolerated these endless boring business
parties and dinners and other get-togethers. Lex caught Chloe's eye
and she smiled and winked coyly at him.
"Son." Lionel's voice stopped Lex from joining her. "I see that Miss
Sullivan is enjoying herself. I hope that she doesn't manage to change
Celina's mind about re-zoning that park as corporate land."
"If she does, I'm sure a few more million dollars will change it back
and you can build that condo in peace." Lex turned to his father.
The bitter animosity he had felt for the man for most of his life had
dulled. It just didn't seem important anymore to put so much energy
into hating Lionel.
"It's not money that sways Celina's opinion." Lionel grinned. "I
might actually thank your girlfriend if have to persuade the good
Senator again."
"I'm sure that Chloe would be thrilled to know she aided another of
your illicit affairs, Dad." Lex shook his head. Lionel's habit of
mixing business with pleasure was old news to Lex, but he knew it would
appall Chloe. She liked Senator Carmichael and although Chloe was
sharp with a cynical edge, she was refreshingly naive about some
aspects of human nature. Adultery was one of them. It would never
occur to her that Senator Carmichael and her husband didn't
particularly like each other and cheated with frightening regularity.
Chloe had some old-fashioned notions about marriage being only two
people forever and even though he had grown up in this world, he agreed
with her.
"This one is special. She means something to you, doesn't she, Lex?"
Lionel stated what had been in the back of Lex's mind since he had
first seen Chloe again. He stared intensely at Lex and then darted an
appreciative glance at Chloe. He nodded sagely. "I approve."
"Lord knows that's all I've ever wanted in life, Dad, your approval."
Lex said the words with sarcasm, but he recognized the truth in them.
It was ironic that he had based his whole life on deceit, corruption,
and greed, but in the end it was falling in love with Chloe that had
gained his father's approval. Especially since it no longer mattered.
Lex loved Chloe whether Lionel approved of it or not.
"You must bring Miss Sullivan by the house tomorrow night. We'll have
a family dinner."
"I'll check with Chloe and get back to you, Dad." Lex nodded at his
father and left him. He noticed that Chloe extracted herself from
the Carmichaels at the same time. They met each other by they coat
check. "I think we've put in enough of an appearance to satisfy my
father. Do you think as one of the hosts of this party, it would be
rude if we leave so early?"
Chloe rose up onto her toes and pecked his lips. "We're young, I think
everyone will understand perfectly why we're leaving early. Let's get
our coats." Lex handed over their tickets as well as a generous tip
to the coat check girl. Chloe smiled up at him over her shoulder as he
helped her on with her red jacket with faux fur collar. "You looked
like you were having a decent conversation with your father."
"I didn't throw my drink in his face, so I guess it could be decent."
Lex chuckled at the pink blush that spread across Chloe's cheeks and
pulled her into the elevator. Once the doors closed, he pulled her
into his arms and preceded to kiss her senseless until they reached the
lobby. He had wanted to do this all evening. When he was with Chloe,
he begrudged any time where they weren't alone together. "We're
invited to a family dinner at the house tomorrow night. If it's like
all my father's family dinners, then the Carmichaels will probably be
there. You might be able to finish finagling an interview out of the
Senator." Lex led Chloe outside. His penthouse wasn't very far from
the LuthorCorp building, so he had sent the limo home. He liked
walking with Chloe. He squeezed her hand when she didn't say anything.
Her face was upturned to the sky. The soft white flakes of one of
winter's last snowfalls landed gently on her cheeks, nose, and
eyelashes. "Chloe, what's wrong?"
"We got our final assignments today." Chloe tugged Lex over to an
empty front step of an old brick apartment building. It looked out of
place among the tall steel and glass business buildings surrounding it,
but it was a landmark and Lionel hadn't managed to have it declared
otherwise. She sat down and Lex sat down beside her. "I was offered
an exposé on LuthorCorp."
"Really." This was it. The rift that would end their relationship.
Lex had known that everything was too perfect, that this would happen
eventually. Now Chloe would start finding things about his business
practices that she wouldn't like and Clark would exploit that and
convince her to leave him. "It sounds like quite an opportunity for
you."
"I turned it down. I asked for a story in the criminal justice
section."
"But you like covering the political/corporate stories." Lex frowned.
"I don't want you to limit yourself or give things up for me, Chloe.
We'll just have to keep our personal life separate from our careers."
"There's only one problem with that, Lex. We're both human." Chloe
cupped Lex's cheek. "I'm not giving up anything. The crime stories
are just as interesting and prestigious as the political/corporate
ones. I can still be an investigative reporter, I just don't want to
investigate you. Trust me, nothing good comes from snooping into the
lives of the people you care about. You find out things you don't want
to know."
"I want you to know everything about me, Chloe." Lex shifted closer to
Chloe and took both her hands in his. He was going to give it up - all
the underhanded business deals, the dicey research projects - and make
her proud of him. "I want you to trust me."
"I do trust you, Lex." Chloe looked down at their entwined hands.
"I, uh..." She ran her tongue over her lips and glanced back up at
him. "I love you."
You are my world, my life. No other woman exists for me. I've never
felt this way before. I love you too. Lex wanted to say all those
things and take her breath away, but when he opened his mouth he didn't
say anything. She loved him. He hadn't allowed himself to even hope
that she could feel that way, so he was totally unprepared for her
declaration.
"Wow, I rendered Lex Luthor speechless." Chloe leaned forward and
captured Lex's top lip in a kiss. "I love you."
"I want you to be my wife." Lex shook his head. "I mean...I love you
too, Chloe, more than....I love you so much. Will you marry me?" He
stopped her answer with a fierce kiss, suddenly afraid of what she
would say. "No, don't answer that. This isn't right...I should take
you to dinner...candlelight and wildflowers...I don't even have a
ring...."
Chloe put her fingers to Lex's lips, halting the flow of words.
"Shhh." She unbuttoned his warm black wool coat and slipped her arms
around his waist, snuggling close to him. His heart thrummed against
her ear. "Speechless and unprepared. Yes, I will marry you. I want
to be your wife, Lex."
Lex hugged Chloe even closer. Since his mother's death, love hadn't
been a part of his life and he had never dreamed that it would ever be
again. He was never letting Chloe go. "I love you, Chloe. I'll love
you forever."
*****
The courtroom was moderately full. The murder trial of Gerald Ramiere
wasn't sensational enough to attract a crowd of onlookers or grab the
attention of the media - just Chloe. Clark spotted her immediately.
She was sitting behind the empty defendant's chair, studiously
scribbling something down in her notebook. Clark knew she was hoping
to get an interview with Gerald Ramiere to complete her story and
assignment. Chloe glanced at her watch and as she did the ring on her
left hand flashed under the flourescent lights. She paused and stared
at it before caressing it lightly with her right pinky. A soft smile
stole over her face. Clark had to hand it to Lex, he sure knew how
to pick out an engagement ring. It was a beautiful diamond and
sapphire ring with a white gold band.
"Chloe." Clark took the seat next to her.
"Hey, Clark." Chloe looked up at him and grinned. "Court just
adjourned and the jury is deliberating. I'm just waiting around for
Ramiere's lawyer to see if my interview was granted. What's with the
sexy specs?"
"Oh, these." Clark self-consciously pushed his new black frame glasses
up his nose. He had gotten them that morning because of a recent
close call. Pete had come down for the weekend and they had taken
Chloe out to a movie. Clark had forgotten his wallet and pretended
that it was back in the car. He had used his super speed to run back
to the dorm and while he was there he rescued a girl from being
assaulted. The close call had come the next day when the girl had
almost recognized him in the coffee shop. He didn't think he would be
able to explain to Chloe and Pete how he could be saving a girl
across town when he was at a movie with them. He had decided then that
he needed something to change his features, to give people pause when
they thought about where they might have seen him before. "I was
getting headaches and went for an eye exam."
"Really. So, the guy with the amazing constitution has bad eyesight.
I better have them stop the presses, it sounds like the story of the
century." Chloe elbowed him in the ribs. "Come on, Clark, fess up.
Are you in deep with the mafia? Your gambling debts finally catch up
with you? Get a girl pregnant? Spill your deep, dark secret to your
best friend Chloe."
Clark frowned. Chloe's tone was light and teasing, but her eyes were
pleading with him to tell her something. She couldn't be concerned
about the glasses, could she? "You know me, Chloe, I'm as mysterious
as the ending of a romance novel. I'm fine."
"Of course." Chloe's face fell and she doodled aimlessly n the margins
of her notebook. "You know, you can tell me anything, Clark, and I'll
understand."
"I know, same goes for you." An awful thought occurred to Clark that
could explain Chloe's strange behavior. He slid closer to her and
placed a hand on her shoulder. "Is something wrong, Chloe? Did Lex
hurt you?"
"No." Chloe jerked away. She glared at Clark. "This has nothing to
do with Lex. this is about you and me. And friendship. And trust.
You don't trust me, Clark."
"Yes, I do. It's Lex I don't trust. He's changing you." Clark held
up a hand to stave off Chloe's protests. This was not a new
conversation and now Clark knew what Lex had been up to. While he
had been playing the loving fiancee, he had also been turning Chloe
against him. "You have changed. Look at the story you're writing.
You should be investigating LuthorCorp and exposing all their dirty
deals, but you're afraid of finding out who your fiancé really is."
"Don't go there, Clark. I love Lex and I know who he is." Chloe's
lip trembled with indignation and her spine stiffened. Her jaw jutted
out as she looked directly at her best friend. "And who are you to be
telling me what I should be doing? I like crime reporting, but you've
never asked me if like it or not. Do you want to know why? Because
it reminds me of when I would chase down leads to those crazy meteor
stories I used to write for the Torch. But I guess you know they
weren't so crazy. Now, if you'll excuse me, Gerald Ramiere's lawyer
just walked into the courtroom and I have to find out if I got my
interview."
As Chloe passed by him, Clark caught her hand. "I'm sorry if what I
said hurt you, Chloe, but I can't stand by and watch Lex destroy your
life. He's lying to you and he'll lie to you as long as you keep
believing him. You can't trust people like Lex."
A gaspy laugh escaped Chloe's lips. Ever hear the expression 'people
in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?'" She wiped hastily at her
eyes and walked away from Clark. Lex had won. Chloe had chosen him
and Clark had no idea why.
Continued....
The farm was comfort. Whenever Clark returned home to visit his
parents, a feeling of complete safety enveloped him. This was the only
place in the world where he could be himself and not worry about his
secret being uncovered.
"So, are you going to talk about what's bothering you?" It was also
the only place where he couldn't get away with brooding. Clark smiled
as his mother handed him the last plate to dry. She always brought
out the good china whenever Clark came home for the weekend and hated
to put them in the dishwasher for fear that they would get chipped.
"Chloe is dating Lex." Clark carefully dried the plate and put it
away in the cupboard. He wished he could fling across the room and
watch it smash into little pieces against the wall, but he doubted that
his mother would appreciate it. Martha Kent didn't tolerate temper
tantrums, especially when they were vented using her grandmother's
china.
"That's been happening for a few months." Martha pulled the plug to
let the dirty water drain and dried her hands on Clark's towel. She
gave her son a sympathetic smile and touched his cheek. "I love Chloe,
but you know, it would be easier if you fell for these girls before
they had boyfriends."
"I don't love Chloe like that, Mom. We're just friends. I just
thought she would have seen through Lex by now. He's going to hurt
her." Clark frowned. Chloe was so smart, why couldn't she figure out
that Lex was using her. That he wanted her because she was a part of
Clark's life and for some reason, Lex was obsessed with having
everything that Clark had.
"You don't know that." Martha bit her lip and shot a cautious look at
her son. "It could be that you're confusing what happened between you,
Lex, and Lana with Chloe's relationship with Lex. He could love her
and if Chloe is happy...."
"Lex doesn't know how to love, Mom. He only knows how to possess
things and people." Clark slapped the damp towel against his thigh.
"He won't be happy until he owns Chloe and then he'll throw her away
like he has with all his other conquests. She may be happy now, but
she'll be miserable later." Clark couldn't let that happen. Somehow
he had to convince Chloe to throw Lex away first.
*****
Life had a funny way of taking surreal twists. Lex sipped at his
champagne as he watched Chloe talking to Senator Carmichael and her
husband. She was probably trying to pin down the Senator's position
on the cut in daycare funding or something like that, but whatever it
was, Lex would tell she was charming the hell out of them. She had
charmed everyone in his social circle, even his father liked her once
they got past his sexual advances. Lex smiled as he remembered walking
into his father's study to find Lionel Luthor with an angry red mark
on his cheek and the contents of a wine glass splashed in his face and
down his shirt. Chloe was in the middle of a tirade about how Lionel
should respect his son and her. Despite this incident, Lionel seemed
to approve of Chloe and hadn't interfered further in their
relationship. She was amazing and Lex couldn't believe that Chloe was
still in his life, that she tolerated these endless boring business
parties and dinners and other get-togethers. Lex caught Chloe's eye
and she smiled and winked coyly at him.
"Son." Lionel's voice stopped Lex from joining her. "I see that Miss
Sullivan is enjoying herself. I hope that she doesn't manage to change
Celina's mind about re-zoning that park as corporate land."
"If she does, I'm sure a few more million dollars will change it back
and you can build that condo in peace." Lex turned to his father.
The bitter animosity he had felt for the man for most of his life had
dulled. It just didn't seem important anymore to put so much energy
into hating Lionel.
"It's not money that sways Celina's opinion." Lionel grinned. "I
might actually thank your girlfriend if have to persuade the good
Senator again."
"I'm sure that Chloe would be thrilled to know she aided another of
your illicit affairs, Dad." Lex shook his head. Lionel's habit of
mixing business with pleasure was old news to Lex, but he knew it would
appall Chloe. She liked Senator Carmichael and although Chloe was
sharp with a cynical edge, she was refreshingly naive about some
aspects of human nature. Adultery was one of them. It would never
occur to her that Senator Carmichael and her husband didn't
particularly like each other and cheated with frightening regularity.
Chloe had some old-fashioned notions about marriage being only two
people forever and even though he had grown up in this world, he agreed
with her.
"This one is special. She means something to you, doesn't she, Lex?"
Lionel stated what had been in the back of Lex's mind since he had
first seen Chloe again. He stared intensely at Lex and then darted an
appreciative glance at Chloe. He nodded sagely. "I approve."
"Lord knows that's all I've ever wanted in life, Dad, your approval."
Lex said the words with sarcasm, but he recognized the truth in them.
It was ironic that he had based his whole life on deceit, corruption,
and greed, but in the end it was falling in love with Chloe that had
gained his father's approval. Especially since it no longer mattered.
Lex loved Chloe whether Lionel approved of it or not.
"You must bring Miss Sullivan by the house tomorrow night. We'll have
a family dinner."
"I'll check with Chloe and get back to you, Dad." Lex nodded at his
father and left him. He noticed that Chloe extracted herself from
the Carmichaels at the same time. They met each other by they coat
check. "I think we've put in enough of an appearance to satisfy my
father. Do you think as one of the hosts of this party, it would be
rude if we leave so early?"
Chloe rose up onto her toes and pecked his lips. "We're young, I think
everyone will understand perfectly why we're leaving early. Let's get
our coats." Lex handed over their tickets as well as a generous tip
to the coat check girl. Chloe smiled up at him over her shoulder as he
helped her on with her red jacket with faux fur collar. "You looked
like you were having a decent conversation with your father."
"I didn't throw my drink in his face, so I guess it could be decent."
Lex chuckled at the pink blush that spread across Chloe's cheeks and
pulled her into the elevator. Once the doors closed, he pulled her
into his arms and preceded to kiss her senseless until they reached the
lobby. He had wanted to do this all evening. When he was with Chloe,
he begrudged any time where they weren't alone together. "We're
invited to a family dinner at the house tomorrow night. If it's like
all my father's family dinners, then the Carmichaels will probably be
there. You might be able to finish finagling an interview out of the
Senator." Lex led Chloe outside. His penthouse wasn't very far from
the LuthorCorp building, so he had sent the limo home. He liked
walking with Chloe. He squeezed her hand when she didn't say anything.
Her face was upturned to the sky. The soft white flakes of one of
winter's last snowfalls landed gently on her cheeks, nose, and
eyelashes. "Chloe, what's wrong?"
"We got our final assignments today." Chloe tugged Lex over to an
empty front step of an old brick apartment building. It looked out of
place among the tall steel and glass business buildings surrounding it,
but it was a landmark and Lionel hadn't managed to have it declared
otherwise. She sat down and Lex sat down beside her. "I was offered
an exposé on LuthorCorp."
"Really." This was it. The rift that would end their relationship.
Lex had known that everything was too perfect, that this would happen
eventually. Now Chloe would start finding things about his business
practices that she wouldn't like and Clark would exploit that and
convince her to leave him. "It sounds like quite an opportunity for
you."
"I turned it down. I asked for a story in the criminal justice
section."
"But you like covering the political/corporate stories." Lex frowned.
"I don't want you to limit yourself or give things up for me, Chloe.
We'll just have to keep our personal life separate from our careers."
"There's only one problem with that, Lex. We're both human." Chloe
cupped Lex's cheek. "I'm not giving up anything. The crime stories
are just as interesting and prestigious as the political/corporate
ones. I can still be an investigative reporter, I just don't want to
investigate you. Trust me, nothing good comes from snooping into the
lives of the people you care about. You find out things you don't want
to know."
"I want you to know everything about me, Chloe." Lex shifted closer to
Chloe and took both her hands in his. He was going to give it up - all
the underhanded business deals, the dicey research projects - and make
her proud of him. "I want you to trust me."
"I do trust you, Lex." Chloe looked down at their entwined hands.
"I, uh..." She ran her tongue over her lips and glanced back up at
him. "I love you."
You are my world, my life. No other woman exists for me. I've never
felt this way before. I love you too. Lex wanted to say all those
things and take her breath away, but when he opened his mouth he didn't
say anything. She loved him. He hadn't allowed himself to even hope
that she could feel that way, so he was totally unprepared for her
declaration.
"Wow, I rendered Lex Luthor speechless." Chloe leaned forward and
captured Lex's top lip in a kiss. "I love you."
"I want you to be my wife." Lex shook his head. "I mean...I love you
too, Chloe, more than....I love you so much. Will you marry me?" He
stopped her answer with a fierce kiss, suddenly afraid of what she
would say. "No, don't answer that. This isn't right...I should take
you to dinner...candlelight and wildflowers...I don't even have a
ring...."
Chloe put her fingers to Lex's lips, halting the flow of words.
"Shhh." She unbuttoned his warm black wool coat and slipped her arms
around his waist, snuggling close to him. His heart thrummed against
her ear. "Speechless and unprepared. Yes, I will marry you. I want
to be your wife, Lex."
Lex hugged Chloe even closer. Since his mother's death, love hadn't
been a part of his life and he had never dreamed that it would ever be
again. He was never letting Chloe go. "I love you, Chloe. I'll love
you forever."
*****
The courtroom was moderately full. The murder trial of Gerald Ramiere
wasn't sensational enough to attract a crowd of onlookers or grab the
attention of the media - just Chloe. Clark spotted her immediately.
She was sitting behind the empty defendant's chair, studiously
scribbling something down in her notebook. Clark knew she was hoping
to get an interview with Gerald Ramiere to complete her story and
assignment. Chloe glanced at her watch and as she did the ring on her
left hand flashed under the flourescent lights. She paused and stared
at it before caressing it lightly with her right pinky. A soft smile
stole over her face. Clark had to hand it to Lex, he sure knew how
to pick out an engagement ring. It was a beautiful diamond and
sapphire ring with a white gold band.
"Chloe." Clark took the seat next to her.
"Hey, Clark." Chloe looked up at him and grinned. "Court just
adjourned and the jury is deliberating. I'm just waiting around for
Ramiere's lawyer to see if my interview was granted. What's with the
sexy specs?"
"Oh, these." Clark self-consciously pushed his new black frame glasses
up his nose. He had gotten them that morning because of a recent
close call. Pete had come down for the weekend and they had taken
Chloe out to a movie. Clark had forgotten his wallet and pretended
that it was back in the car. He had used his super speed to run back
to the dorm and while he was there he rescued a girl from being
assaulted. The close call had come the next day when the girl had
almost recognized him in the coffee shop. He didn't think he would be
able to explain to Chloe and Pete how he could be saving a girl
across town when he was at a movie with them. He had decided then that
he needed something to change his features, to give people pause when
they thought about where they might have seen him before. "I was
getting headaches and went for an eye exam."
"Really. So, the guy with the amazing constitution has bad eyesight.
I better have them stop the presses, it sounds like the story of the
century." Chloe elbowed him in the ribs. "Come on, Clark, fess up.
Are you in deep with the mafia? Your gambling debts finally catch up
with you? Get a girl pregnant? Spill your deep, dark secret to your
best friend Chloe."
Clark frowned. Chloe's tone was light and teasing, but her eyes were
pleading with him to tell her something. She couldn't be concerned
about the glasses, could she? "You know me, Chloe, I'm as mysterious
as the ending of a romance novel. I'm fine."
"Of course." Chloe's face fell and she doodled aimlessly n the margins
of her notebook. "You know, you can tell me anything, Clark, and I'll
understand."
"I know, same goes for you." An awful thought occurred to Clark that
could explain Chloe's strange behavior. He slid closer to her and
placed a hand on her shoulder. "Is something wrong, Chloe? Did Lex
hurt you?"
"No." Chloe jerked away. She glared at Clark. "This has nothing to
do with Lex. this is about you and me. And friendship. And trust.
You don't trust me, Clark."
"Yes, I do. It's Lex I don't trust. He's changing you." Clark held
up a hand to stave off Chloe's protests. This was not a new
conversation and now Clark knew what Lex had been up to. While he
had been playing the loving fiancee, he had also been turning Chloe
against him. "You have changed. Look at the story you're writing.
You should be investigating LuthorCorp and exposing all their dirty
deals, but you're afraid of finding out who your fiancé really is."
"Don't go there, Clark. I love Lex and I know who he is." Chloe's
lip trembled with indignation and her spine stiffened. Her jaw jutted
out as she looked directly at her best friend. "And who are you to be
telling me what I should be doing? I like crime reporting, but you've
never asked me if like it or not. Do you want to know why? Because
it reminds me of when I would chase down leads to those crazy meteor
stories I used to write for the Torch. But I guess you know they
weren't so crazy. Now, if you'll excuse me, Gerald Ramiere's lawyer
just walked into the courtroom and I have to find out if I got my
interview."
As Chloe passed by him, Clark caught her hand. "I'm sorry if what I
said hurt you, Chloe, but I can't stand by and watch Lex destroy your
life. He's lying to you and he'll lie to you as long as you keep
believing him. You can't trust people like Lex."
A gaspy laugh escaped Chloe's lips. Ever hear the expression 'people
in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?'" She wiped hastily at her
eyes and walked away from Clark. Lex had won. Chloe had chosen him
and Clark had no idea why.
Continued....