He thought about casting Clark into the role of actually, actively, punishing him and he - Didn't like it.

"I think," he said, not snappish at all, just quiet and strained, "I'd rather you just hurt me."

He didn't like it because he didn't want to cast Clark into that role and it was stupid nad maybe contradicted what he'd said but Clark. Was his support and faith, in some ways. "I'm afraid I might believe you."