Later, he learned that John and Raelynn had favored their adopted son—at the cost of their own flesh and blood. Arthur had come to him crying more than once. Of course he’d been heartbroken. They’d argued over it many times. Eventually, the constant fighting drove John over the edge—he dragged Benjamin to the forest on the outskirts of Mose City and stripped him of everything, down to the last cent. At the time, they’d only just adopted Zac. He hadn’t yet started physically hurting Arthur, so Benjamin never realized the full extent of what was happening. He never imagined that those two heartless people would actually lay hands on their own biological child. After he asked about John and Raelynn, the room went quiet. Arthur opened his mouth, but didn’t know how to explain the ugliness of his past. Ashley, who had been quietly listening the whole time, gently took his hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. Then she let out a small sigh and pulled out her phone. She had saved an old news article detailing Arthur’s story. It was thorough. Benjamin already knew that Ashley was Arthur’s fiancée—he’d learned that much before coming to the island. And he was satisfied with her. As long as Arthur loved her, that was enough. Especially after losing Kelly, Benjamin had come to understand the importance of respecting the younger generation’s choices. But in his haste, he hadn’t yet learned about Arthur’s childhood. He took the phone from Ashley, brows furrowed. Arthur instinctively reached out to stop him—he didn’t want to worry his grandfather—but Benjamin was faster. He began to read. The article was long. It detailed everything: Arthur’s abuse, his suffering, and the years of unjust treatment he had endured.When Benjamin finally put the phone down, his eyes were burning with fury—like a storm about to break. His jaw clenched so hard it looked like he might grind his teeth to dust. “John! That monster! He was your father!” Benjamin slammed his palm down on the desk. The whole thing shook, papers rattling and objects nearly falling. If the desk hadn’t been made of solid, rare hardwood, they might’ve feared it would break in half. “Raelynn! I told him not to marry her! They say even a tiger won’t eat its cubs—what kind of parent hurts their own child?! They’re not even human! They don’t deserve to be called parents!” At that moment, a cold, deadly aura radiated from Benjamin. It was the kind of killing intent born from years of surviving on a brutal island—of leading others through life-and-death battles. Arthur felt his heart warm as he looked at his grandfather, burning with righteous fury on his behalf. If Grandpa had been there back then, he definitely would’ve protected him. Arthur sighed softly, then said, “John’s already dead.” Even though, in the end, John had a brief moment of clarity and regret—enough for Arthur to call him “Dad” once—there were wounds so deep that no apology could ever mend them. Even now, after his death, Arthur still found it hard to say that word. The room went quiet again. Benjamin’s rage slowly faded into a deep, calm silence. Then he let out a long breath. “That’s karma.” John may have been his son by blood, but Benjamin had long since given up on him. There was no love left. Only anger. Only hate. So when he learned of John’s death, he didn’t feel much—just a faint, distant emptiness. Benjamin turned and placed a steady hand on Arthur’s shoulder. “You’re a good kid. What’s in the past… let it stay there. Don’t let it poison your future. What matters most is living well in the present.” Arthur nodded firmly. “I understand, Grandpa.” He was right. The past can stay etched in your heart, but it should never shackle your future. It’s just not worth it. Then Benjamin asked about Raelynn and Julie—the three sisters. Once he heard about their current circumstances, he didn’t say much. If they’d shown even a shred of decency, if they’d lived with just a little conscience, he never would’ve wished that kind of fate on his daughter-in-law or granddaughters. But since they’d thrown away their own humanity and acted so cruelly— Then everything that happened to them was exactly what they deserved. There was nothing worth feeling sorry for.