Building The Strongest Family

Chapter 416: Talk

The gym at Dominion Sanctum was nothing short of extraordinary,an experience that couldn’t be found elsewhere. It boasted a vast space that seemed as long as half a football field, held up by strong steel beams fortified with black titanium.

Rows of weight racks stood neatly aligned like soldiers, accompanied by digital punching walls and altitude chambers. In the background, gravity-adjustable treadmills emitted a soft hum.

The atmosphere was filled with the scents of metal, warmth, and hard work.

Even though it was evening, the gym pulsed with a quiet energy,the lights were dimmed to a warm bronze, casting long shadows over the gleaming floor. Outside the large windows, the skyline of Varenya sparkled like a galaxy caught beneath a veil of clouds.

In the center of this impressive setting was Arthur.

He easily lifted a barbell stacked with weights that most would struggle to even consider lifting, pressing it overhead without a hint of hesitation.

His muscles moved with a deliberate grace; there was nothing exaggerated or strained in his form,just the flawless lines of strength shaped by dedication rather than pride.

A single drop of sweat slid down his jaw, yet his breathing remained calm and focused.

Not far away, Richard Osborn wrapped his hands, observing his nephew in silence.

Richard was built was quite huge: broad shoulders and powerful forearms decorated with tattoos that wound down his arms like dark currents. He was still glistening with sweat from an hour of intense training, even before Arthur arrived.

He watched as Arthur lifted again, exhaling slowly through his nose.

"You know," Richard said, his voice rich and teasing, "I used to be impressed by this. Now it feels like you’re just showing off."

Arthur returned the barbell to its rack with a soft metallic thud. Without looking up, he replied, "If I wanted to show off, I’d lift something heavier."

Richard chuckled. "You cocky bastard."

Arthur nearly smiled — almost.

They trained in silence for a while.Arthur shifted to the dumbbells, picking up weights most people couldn’t even budge. Each movement was purposeful and measured; every rep felt like a sacred routine rooted in discipline.

Meanwhile, Richard adjusted an incline bench and reclined, breathing heavily as he powered through another tough set.

The sharp sound of metal meeting metal echoed in the hall,an honest and raw noise that resonated deeply.

After finishing his set, Richard sat up and grabbed a towel, wiping the sweat from his brow before tossing it aside carelessly.

"How’s business?" he asked.

Arthur didn’t stop his motions as he replied matter-of-factly, "Stable."

"Stable?" Richard let out a scoff. "Emily’s division is dominating every media outlet on Earth. Philip’s finance sector is raking in profits. Margaret is managing three continents like an empress! ’Stable’ my foot."

Arthur lifted again, maintaining an unchanging expression. "Growth is on target."

Richard’s laughter rang through the gym, his voice booming. "You sound like a walking spreadsheet."

Arthur remained silent. He carefully set the dumbbells down, wiped his hands, and moved over to the pull-up bar.

Richard shook his head, rolling his shoulders as he approached.

"And what about those new Osborn hotels?" he asked. "We opened a hundred more across Ignis and Crystalia alone,fully booked for the next six months! You should take pride in that. Normal people feel something about that kind of achievement."

Arthur didn’t slow down. "We’ve only hit half our occupancy goals."

Richard stared at him, trying to figure out if Arthur was joking or genuinely that indifferent.

"You’re something else," he muttered.

Arthur kept performing pull-ups, each one slow and controlled, showing no sign of fatigue. His back muscles tightened like ropes, but his breathing remained steady.

Richard leaned against the nearest bench.

"So, if none of that satisfies you, what does?"

Arthur stayed quiet. His silence hovered in the air like a tightly stretched wire.

Richard watched him closely: the way he moved with precision and the calm exterior that concealed much deeper emotions.

He let out a sigh.

"You know," he began in a low voice, "do you recall what we were facing a few years back?"

Arthur momentarily halted his movements,a brief pause, but it was enough for Richard to catch it.

"We were on the edge of disaster," Richard continued with a laugh that lacked any real joy. "But, fortunately, we made it through."

Arthur didn’t turn to look at him, yet Richard could see his grip on the bar tighten just slightly.

Stepping in closer and dropping the façade of casualness, Richard pressed forward. "You remember that time, right?"

Arthur lowered himself from the bar and faced Richard, a hint of amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"I remember more than just a bit."

Richard raised an eyebrow. "Just ’more than a bit’?"

Arthur picked up a towel and wiped his hands dry. "I remember what was important."

"And what would that be?" Richard asked, crossing his arms expectantly.

Arthur’s reply was direct and wholeheartedly genuine.

"The important part was that we survived."

For a moment, silence enveloped them.

This quiet wasn’t uncomfortable or resentful; it felt contemplative,a shared understanding neither felt the need to define.

At last, Richard released a slow breath.

"But that’s exactly my point," he said softly yet firmly. "We got through it together,like a family,and then you..." he gestured toward Arthur.."you were the one who saved us all."

Arthur stopped drying his hands and looked at Richard steadily.

"You saved our family," Richard reiterated in a gentle tone. "But in doing so, you also distanced yourself from it."

Arthur’s expression didn’t waver; he didn’t blink or change his stance. Yet in his eyes, there was a glimmer of something that only someone who truly understood him could recognize.

Moving closer until their shoulders brushed, Richard spoke in hushed tones: "You’re shouldering everything on your own.

"I know that look." He continued.

Arthur said, averted his gaze as if lost in his thoughts.

Richard’s voice remained calm and steady as he pressed on.

"You’re convinced that if you trip up, it’ll all come crashing down. You think that if you take a moment to catch your breath, the entire world will unravel."

Arthur remained silent.

"So you don’t pause," Richard continued. "You don’t take breaks. You don’t talk. You just keep grinding,endlessly."

At last, Arthur spoke. "I don’t want them to suffer if I mess up."

Richard felt his jaw tighten at those words.

He didn’t react with anger or raise his voice. He didn’t brush off Arthur’s worries with hollow reassurances.

Instead, he stated the simple truth.

"That’s not how families work," he said firmly.

Arthur lifted his head slightly, narrowing his eyes as if searching for something deeper in Richard’s words.

"If you stumble," Richard added, "we’ll be there to catch you. That’s what family does. That’s how we’ve always operated. You’re not alone, Arthur. You don’t have to keep pretending you are."

Arthur gazed at the gym’s far wall, taking in Richard’s message.His posture relaxed a touch,not dramatically, but it was noticeable.

The weight of Richard’s words wrapped around him like a comforting embrace.

Slowly, Arthur nodded, signaling his understanding.

Richard gave his shoulder a reassuring clap.

"Great," he said with a grin. "Now stop training like a robot and help me finish this workout."

A soft exhale escaped Arthur,a mix of a sigh and a nearly suppressed laugh,as they made their way back to the benches together.

Richard lay back down for another set, gripping the bar firmly while Arthur stood ready behind him, prepared to provide support with steady hands.

"You built something incredible, Arthur," Richard said between reps, his voice strained but sincere.

"But let that something give back to you."

This time, Arthur didn’t reply with words; instead, something shifted in his expression,it softened, just a little more.

It was subtle but meaningful,it felt human.