Hated for My Looks

I dropped my hand away from my baseball cap.

Well, it saved me the trouble.

At least the family wouldn't be freaking out over my face, and I could get back to unpacking.

Sydney Graham, my eldest sister, pulled a black Amex card out of her pocket.

"Welcome gift."

Just as I reached for the card, Seth Graham grabbed her arm.

"Sydney, Harrison's never had money like this before. He might just get scammed if he gets access to that much cash all at once."

Sydney checked out my worn-out clothes and slipped the card back into her pocket.

"Seth's right."

"You should focus on how things work in the family."

I eyed her pocket.

"What's the balance?"

Sydney scowled.

"First thing you do walking through the door is chasing a payout? Is that how Nan raised you?"

"Nan taught me to keep track of what people owe me."

I pulled out a ledger from my canvas tote.

Tuition, contest registration, gas money for driving across state lines—it was all logged down to the penny.

The year I traveled to the state physics championships, Nan sold our old bike just to pay my way.

Meanwhile, the Grahams stopped sending child support checks thirteen years ago.

"I'm not even asking for money for any emotional distress."

"But I'll take the check for my tuition and schooling costs."

Sutton Graham scoffed right into her livestream camera.

"Hear that?"

"He hasn't been here ten minutes, and he's already handing out invoices."

The chat blew up right away.

"Bro is ugly and bringing drama."

"I bet he's hideous, hiding behind a baseball cap and hoodie."

"Watch out, Seth. He's coming for your family fortune!"

Seth, his eyes welling up, came to my defense.

"Harrison had a tough life growing up, so he tends to be a little insecure."

I held up a QR code so that he could Venmo me.

"Since you feel bad for me, why don't you cover the bill for them?"

His face went stiff.

Letting out a scoff, Sydney dumped the Amex card on the table.

"It's uncapped. Try not to embarrass the family by getting knockoffs."

I caught it without missing a beat and linked it to my phone right there.

"Relax, I'm mostly using it for textbooks."

"Lab equipment can run up a hefty bill, so don't freeze the card."

Sisters who showed up eighteen years too late meant nothing to me.

The unlimited Amex card was pretty sweet, though.

I tucked the card away and asked, "Where are my legal docs and my college enrollment packet?"

Sutton shoved her camera right in my face.

"First money, then paperwork. What's next? Shares to the family business?"

"I need them for campus registration."

I showed them my acceptance letter and national award certificates.

Sutton took one look and froze.

Sydney snatched the top sheet out of the pile.

"Academic All-State?"

"You're recognized as a top science and math student?"

"That's my name on the award."

The livestream chat went silent for a moment before the hate started pouring in once more.

"It makes sense why he covers his face. His grades are the only thing he can show for."

"Who cares if he's smart when he's too hideous to show his face?"

Sutton's sense of entitlement made its way back.

"Well, at least you're good for something."

"Just make sure you don't give Seth any trouble on campus."

I blocked the lens with my hand.

"Am I getting a cut of the stream revenue?"

"Is money the only thing on your mind?"

"Unless you're splitting the money, my face is not free content."

Sutton rolled her eyes.

"It's not like anyone's dying to see your face."

"I'm going to hold you to that."

With the documents out of the way,

Seth looked troubled.

"The only free space is the spare closet room I use to keep my old clothes."

"Does it have A/C and Wi-Fi?"

He was taken aback.

"Yes."

"Can I stay there until I graduate college?"

Sydney said curtly, "Nobody's kicking you out so long as you keep your head down and stay out of the way."

I immediately had my assistant draft up a formal housing contract.

Rent near campus in the city was astronomical.

I could easily save tens of thousands of dollars living rent-free with the Grahams.

Sydney's expression was terrifyingly grim when she signed the papers.

"You're so obsessed with freeloading. Money is going to be your downfall one day."

I put away the signed agreement.

"I don't trip over pocket change."

As I headed upstairs, I walked past my second-oldest sister, Sloane Graham's home office.

Through the cracked door, a photo filled her computer screen.

Beneath a blossoming magnolia tree, a fifteen-year-old boy glanced over his shoulder, so breathtakingly handsome he hardly seemed real.

Wait, wasn't that literally me from five years ago?

Sloane locked the screen immediately.

"Stop staring."

"No amount of plastic surgery can get you ever looking like him."

I nodded earnestly.

"Fair enough. I wouldn't wish these good looks on anyone."

Assuming I was jealous, Sloane slammed the door right in my face.

Just before the door closed, I spotted the reward poster beneath the photo.

A million dollars was up for grabs for anyone who could identify the individual.

I felt the sleek black card in my pocket, feeling a little disappointed.

Even though I could locate the person, I couldn't turn myself in and claim the reward for myself.

It was a huge loss on my part.