The Master They Underestimated

Chapter 7

For a brief moment, Scarface and his thugs stood stunned. Then, as if they had just heard the most ridiculous joke of their lives, the corridor erupted into mock laughter.

"Ha! Did this pretty boy in a coat really just tell me to get lost?" Scarface sneered, cracking his knuckles loudly.

"Idiot must think he’s in a movie," another thug spat, pulling a heavy iron pipe from inside his jacket. "Trying to play the knight in shining armor, huh?"

"Boss, why waste time talking? Let's just take him out!"

Without waiting for orders, the thug with the iron pipe stepped forward and swung the heavy metal bar viciously straight at Damon’s head.

Vanessa sighed inwardly, her muscles tensing as she instinctively prepared to step in and protect him—he was just a doctor, and there was no way he could take a blow like that. But before she could even take a step, a sharp, agony-filled scream echoed through the corridor.

The thug who had attacked first was already on the ground, clutching his stomach in sheer agony and gasping for air.

Clang.

Somehow, in the blink of an eye, Damon had taken the iron pipe from him.

Before the rest of the gang could react, Damon moved in a fluid, terrifying blur. A rapid succession of heavy thuds echoed down the hallway, accompanied by the sharp sound of snapping metal and desperate groans.

One by one, the attackers fell to the floor, completely incapacitated. Damon was moving so fast that to Vanessa, he looked like a shadow cutting through the room.

Scarface roared in fury. Seeing his entire crew wiped out in seconds, he lunged forward, launching a vicious, lethal kick aimed at Damon’s chest.

Damon didn't even flinch. He tossed aside the now-bent iron pipe and, without so much as turning his shoulders, launched a swift, powerful kick of his own.

A sickening crunch resounded.

Scarface’s angry roar instantly turned into a high-pitched scream of agony. His heavy body flew backward through the air, crashing hard into the glass doors of the entrance before sliding down to the floor. A spray of blood hit the tiles as he clutched his crushed ribs, struggling to breathe.

He looked up at Damon in utter terror, stuttering, "Y-You..."

Damon ignored him entirely, turning back toward Vanessa as if nothing had happened. "Let's go, Miss Voss."

Vanessa’s eyes were wide with shock. Damon, who had seemed so gentle, quiet, and refined, turned out to be incredibly fierce in a fight. She had assumed he was just a talented physician, but watching him effortlessly disarm a crew of armed thugs shattered that completely.

He wasn't just a doctor—he was a hidden gem.

A sudden rush of excitement washed over her. The realization that she had stumbled upon someone so extraordinary sparked a strange thrill inside her.

As they walked out of the hospital, Vanessa’s mind raced. How was she supposed to repay a man like this? Money had failed. A position at her family's medical facilities had failed. Luxury cars and property meant nothing to him. If material wealth couldn't move him, how could she win his favor and properly settle this massive debt of gratitude?

She glanced at her watch and realized the time. Turning to Damon, her eyes brightened with an idea.

"Dr. Callahan," Vanessa said, offering a charming smile. "Since you won't accept money or gifts, at least allow me to take you somewhere. I have to attend an exclusive charity reception at the South City estate tonight. It would mean a lot if you accompanied me as my guest."

Damon paused, a slight frown touching his brow. He hesitated, clearly preferring to just head home after a long day. "Miss Voss, I'm not really interested in elite high-society gatherings. I have things to attend to."

"Consider it a personal favor," Vanessa pressed, stepping closer, her tone smooth and persuasive. "The men who attacked us earlier might still have eyes on the hospital or the roads tonight. Besides, it’s a charitable function for the local orphanage—not just business snobs talking shop. Give me a chance to at least buy you a decent dinner."

Damon looked at her for a moment, weighing her words, before letting out a soft, resigned breath. "Fine. But just for an hour."

Vanessa's smile deepened. She led him to her luxury sedan, and soon they were driving toward the Southern District.

"Dr. Callahan, first you saved my grandfather, and now you've saved me," Vanessa said softly as she drove, her curiosity about Damon growing by the minute. "I really don't know how I'll ever thank you enough."

Damon replied politely, "I really didn't do much. But Miss Voss, you should be careful. Those men might be connected to the ones who poisoned your grandfather earlier."

Vanessa's expression hardened. "I have a pretty good idea who's behind this. They'll learn that the Voss family isn't to be trifled with, and I'll make sure they pay for this tenfold!"

From the back seat, Melody—who had caught up with them after ensuring Arthur was safely guarded by hospital security—chimed in sweetly, "Miss Voss, Dr. Callahan has helped us so many times today. Shouldn't you give him some kind of special reward?"

Vanessa caught her assistant's eye in the rearview mirror. "You're right, Melody. We definitely need to treat him properly."

Melody's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Well, since he didn't want the Voss Family Black Card, why don't you reward him... personally?"

"Oh, you little brat!" Vanessa's cheeks flushed slightly. "What are you saying? I ought to have your mouth washed out with soap..."

Damon shifted uncomfortably in his seat, listening to the two women banter. Vanessa quickly regained her cool, regal composure as she turned to him.

"Dr. Callahan, please don't mind my assistant. She doesn't think before she speaks sometimes."

Damon smiled awkwardly, trying to show understanding. "It's fine."

However, Vanessa suddenly added in a smooth, teasing voice, "Though... I wouldn't mind what Melody suggested if that's what you want."

Damon was momentarily at a loss for words. Undeniably, Vanessa was an incredibly alluring woman. Born into elite society, she carried herself with grace and possessed a striking, unforgettable beauty. Unlike the cold, unapproachable women Damon usually ran into, Vanessa was fiery and passionate, with striking curves and an intense charm that could make any man weak at the knees.

Catching a glimpse of Damon's slightly embarrassed expression in the rearview mirror, Vanessa giggled softly.

She hadn't expected someone who could beat up a gang of thugs without blinking to actually get shy over a little teasing. It was surprisingly charming. Countless men had pursued her over the years, but she had never met anyone quite as intriguing as Damon.

Maybe, she thought, it really was worth giving him a try.

The South City Orphanage was located on the southern outskirts of the city, sitting on a sizeable piece of undeveloped prime real estate that local business groups had long coveted. Tonight’s high-profile charity reception was organized to facilitate the orphanage's relocation, drawing the area's most influential families and elite figures.

As night fell, the venue’s grand courtyard was transformed. A vibrant red carpet welcomed the city's upper class, who arrived in sleek cars accompanied by glamorous dates for an evening of networking.

"Miss Voss, welcome!" The orphanage director personally hurried forward to greet Vanessa.

However, as he adjusted his reading glasses, his eyes suddenly lit up at the sight of the man standing beside her. "Dr. Callahan?! You're here too? Oh my goodness, the children and I have been eagerly waiting for your next visit!"

Before Vanessa could even speak, a group of young orphans excitedly swarmed around Damon, their faces beaming as they shouted, "Dr. Damon! Dr. Damon's here!"

Vanessa stood frozen in surprise, watching as Damon greeted the kids with a warm, genuine smile. She realized that this humble doctor's popularity here completely overshadowed her status as the Voss family heiress.

Soon, a few prominent VIP guests approached to greet Vanessa. She straightened her posture and smiled, thinking she had finally regained some of the spotlight.

"Dr. Callahan, let me introduce you to some of the corporate CEOs—"

To her utter astonishment, the wealthy guests recognized Damon before she could even finish making the introductions!

"Oh! Isn't this Dr. Callahan from the General Hospital?" a real estate tycoon exclaims, eagerly stepping forward. "Hello! I'm James Campbell! It's thanks to your miraculous treatment that I can walk without pain again!"

"Dr. Callahan, what an honor to meet you again!" another executive added warmly. "You treated my wife last year when no one else could figure out her condition. Our whole family owes you!"

"Hey, Dr. Callahan! I owe you a drink tonight! If it weren't for your therapy sessions, I’d still be stuck in a wheelchair!"

Vanessa was completely dumbfounded. She watched as these ruthless, powerful business leaders eagerly crowded around Damon, showering him with deep respect and warm greetings. This man's connections were extraordinary—far beyond what anyone would expect from a simple physician.

After finally bidding farewell to the group, Damon turned to Vanessa with a slight, apologetic shrug.

"Sorry about that, Miss Voss. They were all former patients of mine. To be honest, I can barely remember most of their names."

Vanessa smirked, looking at him with renewed fascination. "Dr. Callahan... you're quite the dark horse, aren't you?"

Little did she know, Damon truly could not recall those bigwigs despite their status—to him, they were just people he had helped along the way.