734 Chapter 733
Erin looked over at Lewis and Keira. âLook, you and the first branch donât get along anyway. Just let Selena Horton go and let her and Jake Horton fight it out! Itâs got nothing to do with you.
âSelenaâs smart, and with her husband backing her up, maybe she can take some of the first branchâs assets from Jake.
âJakeâs been doing well lately, and yeah, heâs on your side for now, but you donât really have to protect him, right? Besides, thereâs not that much bad blood between you two and Selena anyway. If you make peace with the Cobbs, it keeps our five families working together, doesnât it?â
Keira got what Erin was driving at.
So this whole thing was about her and Lewis letting Selena go⊠and Erin was afraid if they didnât, it would mess up the alliance between the families. That was why she started out by trying to scare Keira with something about her mom.
Keira was speechless.
She shot Erin a look. âOver something this small?â
Erin coughed awkwardly. âWell, I was worried you might get all righteous about Jake and refuse to let her go. Thought maybe Iâd spook you a bit.â
The idea was to tell Keira something had happened to her mom, then say if she didnât let Selena go, something really would happen. That way, Keira would have no choice but to agree.
But now Erin realized that her little trick had almost backfired, nearly making Keira angry.
Just thinking about how scary Keira had looked a moment ago sent a chill down Erinâs spine.
Maybe it wasnât such a good idea to joke about her mom anymore.
While Erin was busy worrying about that, Keira turned to look at Lewis.
To be honest, Erin had rattled her a little.
The alliance between the five families was a big deal. She wasnât sure why, but if she didnât complete the task, she might not even be able to get into the South family, let alone save her mom.
The thought of her mother being tortured by the South family made her even more desperate to find a solution.
If it was just about letting Selena goâŠ
Maybe that wasnât such a bad option.
She wasnât the kind of person who let stubbornness cloud her judgment.
Just as she was considering it, Keiraâs phone rang. She glanced down and saw it was Nara.
She immediately answered, âNara, whatâs up?â
Nara had started speaking again, but his words still came out haltingly, âM-my mom⊠has⊠something to tell you.â
The phone was handed over to Mrs. Gill, who wasted no time. âMiss Olsen, have you crossed the Cobb family?â
Keira fell silent.
Had the Cobbs already made their move?
She was about to respond when Mrs. Gill sighed. âI just got word that all our business deals with you are being canceled. Iâm very sorry, but I donât hold absolute power in the Gill family. AlsoâŠâ
Mrs. Gill hesitated before continuing, âSelena, that illegitimate daughter of the Horton family, has already been released. Her husband may be a distant relative of the Cobb family, but his skills have caught the Cobb patriarchâs eye. So, would you like me to arrange a meeting with them? Itâs always better to settle things amicably, as long as itâs not a matter of principle. What do you think?â
Keira clenched her jaw.
She looked over at Lewis, who frowned but then gave her a slight nod.
Keira said, âOkay, Mrs. Gill. Iâd appreciate your help.â
Mrs. Gill quickly replied, âItâs no trouble. You should visit Nara more often. She misses you.â
âOf course.â
After hanging up, Keira turned to Lewis with a frown. âWhatâs going on? Selena was convicted, right? Isnât releasing her illegal? Are the Cobbs that powerful?â
Selena and Marisa had helped hide Oliver Hortonâs body after his murder, and Selena had been sentenced to five years in prison for it.
How could she be released just like that?
But according to Mrs. Gill, Selena was already out⊠and her husband seemed to hold a grudge over the whole ordeal.
Keira was baffled. âIf Selena had this kind of pull, why didnât she use it sooner?â
If the Cobbs were that influential, she couldâve just used them to fight for power in the Horton family. Even old Mrs. Horton wouldâve had to give her some respect.
But Selena had never seemed eager to rely on her husbandâs power.
Lewis frowned. âThe Cobb family has a reputation for being law-abiding and keeping a low profile. Even someone as fake as Selena wouldnât dare use their name to cause trouble, which shows how strict their family values are. After she married into the Cobbs, I looked into it. Theyâre not the kind of family to make rash moves, and they rarely make enemies. Somethingâs definitely off here.â
Erin chimed in, âDidnât Mrs. Gill arrange the meeting? Just go. Whatever it is, we can figure it out face to face.â
Keira nodded in agreement.
Mrs. Gill didnât waste any time. She set up the meeting for that very afternoon.
Keira and Lewis drove together, with Erin tagging along, and Mrs. Gill led them to the Cobb family home.
The Cobb residence was a sprawling courtyard with a classic, old-fashioned charm that was unique to Clance.
Their home was understated but impressive, the large doors exuding an aura of authority and timeless elegance.
Keira, Lewis, and Erin followed Mrs. Gill inside the Cobb familyâs estate.
The whole place gave off the vibe of an old, scholarly family.
Keira felt like the Cobb family had this air of mystery, almost like a family of reclusive sages. Everything about them was steeped in the quiet dignity and understated grace of traditional Creran culture.
She loved the atmosphere and felt drawn to the Cobb familyâs styleâŠ
But it made her wonder: how had someone like Selena managed to marry into such a family?