She needed resources to get there, and those resources can only be obtained through money and connections. Because the industry was so corrupt, simply having talent was ineffective. If you have money and connections, your status will rise steadily.

When she compared her own family to the Sheppard's, she didn't need to be told about the disparity between the two families, so even if Nolan didn't love her, she was going to take advantage of what he could give her to better her own life. ...