Lionel Luthor is a hard man. Tough, strong--both physically and mentally. He's never let his body go soft like so many other wealthy men, but kept in shape. And his mind is as sharp as a tack.
He's ruthless--that's a given.
And cold.
He doesn't know love, only lust, and he's fine with that. Love is a weakness. He sees it in his son too often. He'll never allow himself to be that vulnerable.
He also knows obsession and is comfortable with that as well. His obsessions vary from the Traveler to controlling as much of the meteor rock as he can to experiments to his odd desire for a farmer's wife.
He has regrets as well and the one that lingers is that he never wins her. He never more than kisses her. After she leaves him he knows he didn't push hard enough, was too easy and soft with her. It's not a mistake he'll make again.
He always learns from his mistakes.
In the end it's his biggest regret that leads to his greatest mistake and, as he falls, shocked for the first time in his life that something is out of his control, he knows he'll never learn from this one.
He doesn't know where he went wrong with Lex but he has a fleeting regret that his son has become just like him.
And then he hits the pavement and Lionel Luther feels nothing at all.
End