[Chapter 162: Curse]
Soon, Daniel noticed another bruise on her thigh. This one was quite large as well, but the color was a bit darker.
Daniel nodded. "Alright."
Anne Hathaway let out a sigh of relief and quickly pulled her pants back on. Her cheeks were flushed, giving her a shy look.
Daniel pretended not to notice and asked, "Does it hurt?"
Anne quickly replied, "No, I usually don't even notice them. It was only when I found this one on my leg and checked the mirror that I saw the one on my back."
Daniel sighed internally. "Let's go outside and talk."
Seeing Daniel's serious expression, Anne started to feel nervous. She followed him out to the outdoor lounge and sat down, immediately asking, "Mr. Cross, is this really some kind of supernatural event?"
Daniel answered, "It's not just supernatural -- it's serious."
Anne's face went pale. "Serious?"
Daniel said, "The bruises on your body aren't ordinary. They're a curse."
"A curse?" Anne and her agent exchanged worried looks.
Daniel nodded. "Yes, a curse. I'm very familiar with it. The Brotherhood of Saints I've dealt with before specialize in this kind of thing."
Daniel continued, "For these curses, no matter where you hide, it's useless. You'll keep having nightmares and bad luck."
"Exactly. I've been really unlucky lately," Anne said quickly. "I cut my hand peeling fruit, lost my wallet, and even had water splashed on me from upstairs..."
Daniel said, "That's just the beginning. It will only get worse."
Anne panicked. "So, what can I do?"
Daniel explained, "You have two options. First, I can break the curse's power tied to your body. The bruises will disappear immediately, and you won't have nightmares anymore. But you can never go back to your current home. If you do, it will trigger the curse again."
Anne's eyes brightened with hope. "What's the second option?"
Daniel said, "You address the source of the curse -- whatever is causing it in your house. That way, the house will be cleansed, and you can live there normally."
Anne thought for a moment and asked, "How much do each of these cost?"
Daniel replied, "The first option is fifty thousand dollars. The second starts at a hundred thousand, but I won't charge extra unless the spirit or monster is too powerful for me to handle under normal circumstances."
Fifty thousand to fix herself but lose her home -- and double that to save the house. The choice was clear.
Anne said, "I want the second plan."
Daniel wasn't surprised. "That requires a twenty-thousand-dollar down payment, with the balance due after the work is done. If I fail, the down payment's refundable."
Anne had recently earned some money and had no objections. She quickly wrote a check for twenty thousand dollars and handed it to Daniel.
Daniel put away the check and stood up. "Let's go have a look at your house."
"Wait," Anne said. "You said you'd break the curse first."
Daniel shook his head. "Since you chose the second plan, I can't clear the curse right now. Doing so would alert whatever's inside."
Anne thought it over and agreed. "Makes sense."
Seeing Daniel's empty hands, she asked, "Do you need to prepare anything?"
"Nope. Let's go."
Anne didn't push further. She stood and, with her agent Molly, followed Daniel out the door.
"Keep watching the shop. Call me if anything happens," Daniel instructed Francia before driving after Anne's car.
The two cars drove off in a line.
...
Over half an hour later, they arrived at an upscale neighborhood, but Anne didn't stop. She drove farther inward until they reached a house set apart from the others.
From a distance, Daniel could tell the house was old. Using his Spiritual Perception Technique, he sensed a sinister, evil energy cloaking it.
Daniel's face darkened. This wasn't a simple case.
The car turned into the driveway, and as Daniel stepped out, the oppressive energy slammed into him even stronger.
This kind of power could curse anyone who stayed in the house for a few days, marking them as a target.
After the three got out, Anne's agent hesitated but had no intention of entering.
"Anne, I've got other things to do. I'll leave you here. Hope the exorcism goes well."
Without waiting for a reply, the agent jumped back in the car and sped away.
Anne looked stunned, helplessly glancing at Daniel.
Daniel said, "Ms. Hathaway, it doesn't seem like your agent is very reliable."
"Call me Anne," she said, a flash of irritation crossing her eyes, quickly masked. "I can't blame her for being scared with something like this."
Daniel nodded silently.
Anne Hathaway was very popular now, but it wouldn't be long before people started to dislike her. In fact, in a survey in America titled "Your Most Hated Actress," she ranked second. The top spot went to the actress who played Iron Man's wife, Pepper Potts.
American audiences disliked Anne because they felt she was too pretentious. She always presented a flawless image. While that was once popular, over time people found it fake.
By contrast, actresses with down-to-earth personas were more successful. For example, Jennifer Lawrence built herself as a goofy, relatable person and skyrocketed to fame. Oddly enough, from the leaked photos (The Fappening), in private, she often covered her face with white liquids.
Anne was clearly calculating her image too. Even though she didn't like her agent's reaction, she never showed it. No wonder she rose to such fame and quickly became an A-list actress.
Daniel said nothing else and followed her inside.
...
As soon as he entered, Daniel noticed the temperature was a few degrees cooler than outside. The air held that familiar chill.
He said, "Show me around."
"Right this way, Mr. Cross."
Though the house was old, it was well preserved -- large, sturdy, and furnished with a vintage style that gave it an artistic vibe, thanks to some pieces Anne had collected herself.
"Why did you buy such an old house?" Daniel asked, looking around.
Anne sighed. "I didn't think about it much before. I was just drawn to the vintage style. I never expected it to turn out like this."
They made their way to the backyard, which was large with a swimming pool. A big tree stood by the pool, its thick canopy showing its age.
Daniel stared quietly at the tree for a long moment before turning away. "Let's go inside."
He checked the basement, kitchen, and a bedroom on the second floor carefully.
When he finished, Anne asked anxiously, "So, what did you find, Mr. Cross? Did you see anything?"
Daniel said, "I did. I know exactly what's trying to harm you."
*****
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