The Tyrant Billionaire

The shipping company, once Hardy's biggest investment, was now reaping the benefits of the global economic recovery. With trade volumes surging, the shipping company's vessels were always loaded with cargo, generating continuous revenue for Hardy.

The supermarket chain had expanded by two more locations, one in Los Angeles and the other in San Francisco, both following the previous business model and performing well.

Hardy Mining also brought good news, having discovered a large iron ore deposit on their land. The deposit was extensive, the ore was of high quality, and it was an open-pit mine, making extraction easier.

Although development had not yet begun, Hardy Mining's stock had already soared significantly.

As for other companies—like the TV manufacturer, Estée Lauder, the bottled water plant, the toy factory, and Playboy—Andy only briefly mentioned them, stating that they were all doing well.

Andy specifically noted the winery.

He chuckled and said, "The winery's sales were average before, but now everything is being sold in Japan, and demand is still outpacing supply. The winery has even started distributing other wineries' products, earning extra income."

The Japanese were just glad to have alcohol to drink; quality wasn't their primary concern.

Even if it wasn't top-notch,

the prices were far from cheap—it was genuine American merchandise, smuggled through the black market at several times the original cost.

Andy concluded with an update on the Cayman Islands. The island had entered a period of large-scale development, with numerous construction companies building all over it. Once completed, the Cayman Islands were expected to become the jewel of the Caribbean, a paradise on earth.

Despite the ongoing construction, business operations on the island were not affected.

In fact, the so-called companies were more in name than in substance. Since gaining autonomy just six months ago, over 5,000 companies and a dozen financial institutions had registered in the Cayman Islands. Find exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

This was just the beginning. Many had yet to realize the benefits of a tax haven, but once the Cayman Islands were fully developed, a flood of companies was expected to flock there. The future of the world's tax havens had already proven that this path was a bright one.

After finishing the conversation with Andy about the company, Andy took his leave. With Andy overseeing the operations, Hardy felt reassured.

Upon leaving the study, the butler informed Hardy that Irina had arrived, so Hardy went to his room.

When Hardy opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of a flawless figure—tall and slender with curves in all the right places. The only thing adorning her body was the necklace around her neck.

Irina walked barefoot over to Hardy. "I didn't have a suitable dress to wear. Do you think I look good like this?"

"Absolutely stunning," Hardy replied.

Irina wrapped her arms around Hardy's neck, her legs encircling his waist as he carried her into the bathroom.

After their passionate encounter,

Irina lay in Hardy's arms and talked about the television station. This year, Super Idol was as popular as ever, continuing to crush the competition. With Christmas approaching, the grand finale was set for Christmas Eve.

Irina also told Hardy about the new shows that had premiered this year, new dramas being filmed, and the ratings they had achieved. Through their casual chat, Hardy gained a comprehensive understanding of the station's situation.

Taylor was the last to know that Hardy had returned.

After all, she was the youngest.

Hardy drove to Taylor's house and rang the doorbell. When Taylor's mother, Elsa, saw Hardy, she greeted him excitedly, "Ah~~ It's Baron Hardy!"

Elsa, being British, had a deep-seated respect for nobility. With Hardy now holding the title of Baron and Governor of the Cayman Islands, his status in Elsa's eyes had risen even higher.

"Is Taylor home?" Hardy asked.

"Yes, I'll go get her."

Elsa hurried upstairs. When Taylor heard that Hardy was there, she rushed down in excitement. Seeing Hardy sitting on the living room sofa, she leaped onto his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

This was Taylor's home, after all.

Upstairs, Elsa witnessed the scene with a smile on her face. Her daughter was truly fortunate to have found someone like Hardy.

She didn't come downstairs, respecting the private moment.

What about her daughter being taken advantage of?

Well, that depended on who was doing it.

When Hardy suggested taking Taylor out, Elsa readily agreed, "Have fun, and don't worry about the time."

Outside, Hardy led Taylor to a yellow Rolls-Royce convertible. He opened the driver's door and motioned to her.

"This is your Christmas gift. It's yours now. You drive," Hardy said with a smile.

Taylor was delighted with the car.

A Rolls-Royce.

And it was in her favorite color, yellow.

Nearly 18 years old, Taylor had already learned to drive. She hopped into the driver's seat with glee, while Hardy settled into the passenger seat. Taylor started the engine, and the sports car roared off.

The weather in Los Angeles was always pleasant. Even with Christmas approaching, temperatures were still in the 20s. The car sped along, the wind in Taylor's face giving her a sense of exhilaration.

She loved this feeling of freedom.

"Where should we go?" Taylor asked Hardy.

"It's your car; you decide," Hardy replied.

Taylor thought for a moment, "How about Las Vegas? Many people are treating it as a weekend getaway."

"Sounds good."

Taylor drove onto the I-15, heading toward Las Vegas. Doing whatever she wanted—this was what freedom felt like.

This sense of liberty was something Margaret would never experience. Though Taylor wasn't a princess, she was a hundred times luckier than Margaret.

After driving 200 kilometers, Taylor finally grew tired. They stopped at a gas station along the way, where Hardy took over driving.

"Has Beauty and the Beast been finished? When is it set to be released?" Hardy asked the still-excited Taylor.

"It's not done yet. The animation is taking a long time. The director said it should be ready by February, which is perfect because that's when my birthday is," Taylor replied with a smile.