All Chapters of RUIN MY 4.0: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Aiden's POV The school nurse’s office smells like cheap antiseptic. Lily is limp in my arms, her body burning hot, while the nurse speaks to me.“She threw up twice in class, Aiden. Temperature, 101.8. But honestly…” She lowers her voice, glancing at the sleeping child. “She’s down another four pounds since the spring screening. That puts her in the fifth percentile for an eight-year-old. She’s malnourished. I’m required to file a report if there’s no improvement by next month.”Her words hit like a punch to my chest.I nod once, my jaw locked so tight it ached. “Thank you for telling me.”I carry Lily the eight blocks home because the bus takes too long and I need the air to calm me down. She weighs almost nothing, and even that makes my heart break.'I love her more than the whole sky,' I think to myself. I will burn the world down before I let it keep hurting you.*...*...*...*...*...*...*...The apartment reeked of stale beer before I could even get the key in the lock.I step in

NIKOLAI'S POV The heavy bag swung hard under my fists.Thud. Thud. Thud.The private gym on the top floor of my penthouse was still dark except for the red glow of the city lights that shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows.Sweat dripped off my jaw, stung my eyes and soaked the waistband of my low-slung shorts.I barely feel the pain. I haven’t felt anything except this gnawing, clawing need for weeks.My name is Nikolai Serrano. I'm twenty-two years old and the sole owner of Serrano & Partners, a law empire that spans seven firms across Manhattan and Brooklyn.I have more money than most small countries, and a reputation that makes grown men nervous when I walk into a room.I have everything.And until six weeks ago I had nothing.Thud.I drive a right hook into the bag so hard the chain rattles.Six weeks ago, I was leaving my Midtown office at one in the morning and I cut through the East Village on foot because I’d never taken that route before.And that’s when I saw him

NIKOLAI’S POVI’ve been insulted before. I’ve been hated before. People have thrown far worse at me with much more venom. It’s not new to me.But none of that ever hurt as much as Aiden’s words. He was cruel and he knew it. I should be angry. Furious. Something fitting for the things he threw at me. But all I feel is this heavy, sinking disappointment and... pain.I take a long breath through my nose to try to let it out but I can’t seem to calm myself down. I just never thought he’d see it the way he did. See…me that way.Did I come on too hard? Was it what I did in the hallway? Fuck.I hit the brakes and type a message before I can stop myself.[I’m sorry I made you feel cheap.That was never what you were to me. I’ll stay away from now on.] I throw my phone in the seat with a sigh and press on the accelerator until the Maybach speeds through the streets. I don’t bother going home knowing I’m just going to drink till I pass out. I need to hit something.I park by an abandoned buil

AIDEN’S POVA nurse finally approaches us. She looks young and tired, but kinder than the one from earlier.“Mr. Cross?” she asks softly.“Yes—yes, that's me.”“We managed to stabilize your sister’s fever.”I feel my heart start to pound in relief.“But,” she continues carefully, “she’s still being monitored. Her temperature spiked very high, so we want to watch her for a while before allowing visitors.”My heart sinks a little. “Can I… just see her? Just for a minute?”“I’m sorry,” she says gently. “Not yet. But she’s responding well. That’s a very good sign.”I swallow and nod, even though disappointment knots my throat. “Okay. Thank you.”She gives me a reassuring smile—then turns to Nikolai's guy who's leaning against the wall. “Sir,” she says to him, “your um… friend has woken up.”“He’s stable for now,” she continues, “but he’s been experiencing intense piercing migraines accompanied by sudden fainting episodes. We’re running tests to determine the cause. He’s able to see one v

AIDEN’S POVI slam the door as I enter but it doesn’t cool the rage boiling in my veins. Mom’s house reeks of stale booze as always. How could I have even let Lily live here?I storm through the living room, kicking aside empty alcohol bottles on the floor. My sister—my little sister—collapsed because this woman couldn’t be bothered to give her the meds she needs every goddamn day.I barrel into Lily’s room, yanking open drawers and shoving clothes into the duffel bag I brought. It's sad that everything she owns fits into one pathetic bag. My hands shake as I zip it up, my knuckles white.“Aiden? What the hell are you doing?”Mom’s voice slurs from the doorway. She looks like shit—her hair is untidy, her eyes bloodshot, and she's holding another bloody bottle of alcohol. She lunges forward and tries to grab the bag from me.“You can’t just take her things! She’s my daughter!”I spin on her, my fury exploding. “Your daughter!? You forgot her meds, Mom! She could’ve died! You drink your