"She's my adopted sister," Connor says. He would have just said "my sister", but that, given the obvious difference in their surnames, would have just gotten Lionel curious about the family background. "So I was really glad to hear you approve of her relationship with Lex."

You'd better.

"What fathers think matters a lot. To her."

Meaning that it doesn't matter to Connor. Which of course is not true and never has been. He just pretends it is, and sometimes he even manages to deceive himself.

"Sure I don't mind," he says, takes a page he had been planning to make a list of Egyptian destinations on and hands to Lionel, together with a pen, and smiles, as if making a joke. "It's not like we get to choose our names, right? I'll tell Harry you called then and give him your message. Or I could forward it to him at once if you want. Your choice, Mr... Lionel."