Lex hired some disreputable detectives and criminals to dig up dirt on Jonathan. Believe me, those guys with no morals or bottom line will harass and threaten your husband and your family under the guise of investigation."
Lionel said calmly, "However, they also have a very weak side, which is that as long as you pay enough, they will switch allegiances at any time and hand over anything they deem valuable without hesitation."
"I've already obtained material detrimental to your husband from Lex's partners, so you don't have to worry about Jonathan's reputation being damaged by these people."
"Why are you helping us?"
Martha asked, somewhat bewildered.
She didn't understand why Lionel was helping her family instead of his own son.
"I don't want Lex to be elected."
Lionel stated his purpose directly.
"When he suddenly becomes obsessed with something meaningless, it proves that some of his judgments are flawed. The position of State Councilor holds no practical significance for him."
"So you want Jonathan to defeat him?"
Martha asked him.
"It's very difficult. Even if your husband wasn't sick, his chances would be very slim. His opponent's financial resources are dozens of times greater than his. All politics in this world can be measured by money; don't underestimate the power of capital. But whether it's fortunate or unfortunate, because Mr. Jonathan collapsed from overwork on the campaign stage, his approval ratings have surpassed Lex's."
Lionel said to Martha.
"I'd rather not have this support."
Martha gave a bitter smile.
"No one can refuse the gifts of fate, whether they are benevolent or malicious."
As Lionel spoke, he pulled out a check and handed it to Martha.
"Whether Mr. Jonathan stands up and chooses to give up, or re-enters the battle, you will need support. This is all I can do!"
Looking at the check Lionel handed her, Martha shook her head repeatedly.
"No, I can't take this!"
"Unless you can bear it all by yourself, but you will have many troubles in the future, so don't refuse, you need it!"
Lionel seized the moment of her hesitation and directly slipped the check into Martha's hand.
"I…"
A hesitant Martha said to Lionel, "I'm not short of money right now."
"But this money can help Jonathan stand up and re-enter the battle."
Looking at the check in her hand, Martha finally did not refuse.
"Thank you!"
Turning her head, she looked at her husband in the hospital room.
Lionel watched Martha, who was gazing at her husband, for a long moment, then turned and left.
As soon as he walked out of the corridor, he saw Clark standing not far away, staring at him.
Clark had seen Lionel holding his mother's hand.
Believing the other party had ill intentions, his mood immediately soured.
Clark, who instantly had a bad impression of Lionel, warned him, "Don't come near my mother!"
"Excuse me, Clark, when I engage in normal social activities, I generally don't let others' opinions and threats bother me."
Smiling slightly at Clark, Lionel walked to the other side of the corridor.
Watching Lionel's retreating figure, Clark's brows furrowed.
The next morning.
At Metropolis Hospital, Eric was walking in the corridor, holding Rachel.
Because he hadn't slept well last night, he felt a bit tired.
Rachel, however, who was being held by him, looked very energetic, examining her surroundings with bright eyes while cradled in Eric's arms.
After walking a few steps along the corridor, he brushed past a woman.
After being touched by Eric's shoulder, the woman immediately stopped.
Then she stood still, unmoving.
If someone had approached her, they would have noticed her body trembling slightly, and a terrified expression on her face.
Eric did not notice her abnormality and walked straight ahead.
Only after Eric left did the woman let out a long breath, suppress her emotions, and quickly walk towards a room at the end of the corridor.
Pushing open the hospital room door, she immediately closed it, leaning her back against the door, and said to Betty, who was lying on the bed, "You won't believe who I just saw!"
Betty, who had been admitted to the hospital after collapsing in the girls' dormitory last night, had now recovered, though her wrist was still bandaged.
A bit listless, Betty said to her roommate, "Don't tell me you saw a ghost."
"No, I think it's something even scarier than that!"
Her roommate told her, "It was Eric Kent. Believe me, even though I brushed past him, I felt the killing intent emanating from him!"
Ever since Betty and her friends experienced the tragedy at the sorority dormitory, they had developed a conditioned fear response to Eric.
Seeing him was like a mouse seeing a cat—terrifying.
"Then you'd better not lead him in here."
Betty said, a little scared.
"I can't guarantee that!"
Her roommate stuck out her tongue, walked over to Betty, and asked her, "Let's talk about your problem first, Betty, why did you try to commit suicide last night?"
"I didn't!"
Looking at the wound on her wrist, Betty shook her head helplessly. "After the power went out, I lit a candle and saw a woman in the mirror. She… she was covered in blood, with disheveled hair. I was so scared I fainted."
"Betty, there are no ghosts in this world!"
Her roommate clearly did not believe her words.
"But how do you explain what my eyes saw? I don't have mental or psychological problems, I wouldn't just cut my wrist and commit suicide for no reason!"
Her roommate found Betty unconscious in the room, with blood at the corner of her mouth and a cut on her wrist.
"I don't know, but Betty, no one will believe your story. Everyone would rather believe you tried to commit suicide due to mental issues. Heartbreak, exhaustion, fear can all cause a person's mental state to deteriorate."
"That's not my problem."
Betty sighed and said to her friend, "I'm getting more and more confused now, with vampire legends and ghosts. Maybe I should deepen my understanding of this world again."
"Speaking of deepening your understanding of this world, I think…"
Her roommate said to Betty, "If you want to delve into the mysterious, isn't there a ready-made, biggest mystery?"
"What?"
"This!"
Her roommate handed Betty a flyer.
"This is?"
Looking at the huge title on the flyer— "Eric Kent Fan Club"—Betty was stunned.
"Fan Club?"
"Yes, I collected it before. It's said that the president of this fan club is a freshman, I think her name is Hanna. If you're not afraid of Death, you can infiltrate this fan club."
Her roommate handed the flyer to Betty.
Looking at the text and exaggerated slogans on it, Betty instantly felt a slight stir of interest.
At this moment, Eric was completely unaware that someone was planning to infiltrate his fan club. He was currently sitting in the public lounge, holding Rachel.
There was a copy of the Daily Planet newspaper nearby. Eric glanced at it and was immediately drawn by the headline.
The newspaper reported news about the Avenging Angel appearing again in Metropolis, resulting in three gang members being seriously injured.
Eric frowned, holding Rachel with one hand and picking up the newspaper with the other.
The Daily Planet reported information provided by witnesses.
Witnesses described the Avenging Angel as having great strength and being able to easily leap onto tall buildings, jumping over two buildings with a single leap.
And the police suspected that the Death of one gang member was related to the Avenging Angel.
"Is it the Avenging Angel again?"
Putting down the newspaper, Eric's brows furrowed.
Should he send Bart and Jenna out to test this suddenly appearing masked individual and find out who he is?
Eric was thinking about the Avenging Angel when Clark walked over to him.
"Eric, I…"
Clark hesitated for a moment, then said to Eric, "There's something I'd like to ask you about."
"If it's adolescent troubles, I'm sorry, I have no ability to help you with that."
Eric said, taking the newspaper, which Rachel had torn beyond recognition, from her hand.
"If…"
Clark hesitated, then said, "If you encounter a difficult emotional choice, Eric, how would you choose?"
"Difficult choice?"
Eric paused, looked at Clark's face, and shook his head.
"Don't tell me, Clark, you're caught in an emotional dilemma."
"It's not an emotional dilemma, but my feelings for a girl. I don't know if this is love right now."
Clark said, surprising Eric even more.
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