@Chet31 its called a redeeming arc, or in this case a redeeming flashback arc. "Ppl hate the char, so I just write a sad backstory and all his evils will be redeemed. It is called character development", is essentially how I imagine every authors thought-process going when they write one.
So no, they are the same char, and we are supposed to forgive and forget and love him now. Although it's not that far off from happening, considering how hard it is to remember the story and characters with all those various fantasy and isekai stories that all look the same. I am not gonna bother to remember he is a shitty guy for that long, not when the chapters are monthly, and weirdly split.