Chapter 1468
Chapter 1468:
Sensing her frustration, Rupert slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and murmured, “Omar has met Vickie p>
Annabel had little patience for Vickie. Every encounter with her had been irritating.
She reached out and absently played with the buttons on Rupert’s shirt, tilting her head as she said, “Rumor has it Vickie might marry Jeffery p>
If the Kelly family joined the Jenkins family through marriage, it would create a formidable alliance.
However, Rupert only smiled. “Jeffery is a shrewd businessman. He values his interests above all else, but the Kelly family holds no value for him p>
A flicker of surprise crossed Annabel’s face. She blinked, staring at Rupert in confusion. “No value? But the Kelly family has a prominent lineage. How could they be worthless p>
Even if Jeffery had taken control of the Jenkins family, their status and influence weren’t necessarily above the Kellys’. How could Rupert be so sure the Kelly family meant nothing to him?
“What do you think matters most to any businessman?” Rupert countered, sidestepping her question.
After a brief pause, Annabel answered, “Money p>
Rupert’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Do you think the Jenkins family lacks wealth p>
“Well, then tell me,” Annabel said, running out of guesses. She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked straight at him. “Don’t keep me guessing p>
Rupert’s fingertips brushed lightly along her waist as he replied in a low voice, “The Kellys have been cut off from society. In the Jenkins family, connections are prized above all else. The Kelly family has accumulated wealth over the years, but they have very few real allies p>
The Kelly family had built their fortune through gambling ventures, yet their ties to the outside world were limited. They had managed to maintain some connections mainly because of Howell Kelly’s reputation.
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Even so, few prestigious families were willing to associate closely with the Kellys—Jeffery included.
“But I always thought money made the world go round,” Annabel murmured. “With that kind of wealth, it has to be useful, doesn’t it p>
“Money has value,” Rupert said slowly, “but families like these in Douburgh aren’t short on money p>
On the surface, the influential clans of the city seemed calm and orderly, but behind closed doors, their dealings were far more complex.
And it was because of that organization that Rupert had crossed paths with the deranged Omar in the first place.
Hearing that, Annabel let out a quiet sigh.
She truly loathed getting entangled in these power struggles. No wonder her grandfather had insisted on living peacefully in the countryside—it was so much simpler there.
Noticing the distant look in Annabel’s eyes, Rupert assumed she was weighed down by these tangled schemes. He leaned in and whispered, “Don’t worry p>
Annabel looked up and chuckled. “I’m not worried about that. I was just thinking about living a secluded life deep in the woods when we’re older p>