It hadn't surprised him that Joan hadn't taken their offer, they had miscalculated on a very fundamental level. He did regret that because of him, her career would suffer from this --- whatever this island was.

"You have earned it, even before their offer." Arthur tells her honestly, his gaze meeting hers. "You would have had a better chance to fight Jai on your return." He gives her a hint of a smile, "even though we know the inevitable outcome, that doesn't mean we will give up without a fight." Part of it was to prove that they wouldn't roll over and beg but also a part of it was to make Jai's life miserable in the interim.

Arthur understood some of the choices Jai had made. He didn't agree with most of them but he did understand. Jai had picked the road he was traveling on, and Arthur was fine being the bumps in that road.