"Nikki, I never meant to disrespect your choices. I'm not forcing anything on you, and I'm definitely not..." Clark paused, as if the weight of their past arguments just hit him.
"I'm definitely not trying to trade your happiness for business deals. To me, nothing matters more than your happiness. I've already missed too much of your life, and I don't care about business or profits anymore. I just want to be around you as long as I can."
"So no, I'm not pushing you into some arranged marriage. I just want you to meet more people, expand your world a little, and have more options. Whether you stay friends or something more, that's up to you. I respect your choices, and I'll always support you."
Monica had only seen Clark look this unsure once before—back in high school, when he showed up
