All Chapters of RUIN MY 4.0: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Aiden’s POVNikolai doesn’t look at me. His hands are locked around the steering wheel, his jaw angrily set.“Nik,” I start carefully, “I didn’t mean to make you wait. I lost track of time. That’s all.”No response.I swallow and try again. “It wasn’t— I mean, it wasn’t a hangout. It was for class. She’s my lab partner.”Still nothing. Not even a glance.My chest tightens. “You could’ve texted me,” I add, softer. “I would’ve come out.”That gets a reaction.He exhales sharply through his nose and finally speaks. “You can hang out with whoever you want.”The words are flat. Dismissive.I blink. “What?”“I said,” he repeats, eyes still on the road, “you can hang out with whoever you want. Just don’t waste my time.”My stomach twists, heat flaring up my spine. “I wasn’t wasting your time.”He shrugs like it doesn’t matter. “Yes, you were.”“It wasn’t a hangout or anything,” I say, louder now. “We were working. I told you that.”“I don’t care,” he snaps.The words sting more than I expect

Aiden's POVThe morning light filters through the half-drawn curtains, pulling me out of the deepest sleep I've had in weeks. My body feels heavy in the best way—sore, satisfied, utterly wrecked from last night. God, Nikolai. The things he does to me... the things I do to him. Just thinking about it sends a lazy warmth pooling in my gut, even now.I stretch slowly, a quiet groan escaping as my muscles protest. The bed beside me is still warm, but empty. I blink my eyes open fully, rolling onto my side to spot him across the room.He's perched at the small desk by the window, laptop open in front of him. His broad shoulders are hunched slightly as he types, his dark hair tousled from sleep and my hands. The sunlight catches on his skin, highlighting the faint red lines my nails left down his back last night. Fuck, that's hot. He's mine. All mine.He looks so focused, his brows furrowed just a little, lips pressed together in a way that makes me want to kiss him senseless. I could

Nikolai’s POVThe engine hums to life as I slide into the driver's seat, the familiar scent of leather and Aiden's shampoo filling the car. Lily's already buckled in the back, her backpack slung over one shoulder.Aiden settles in beside me, staring out the window like the estate's boring brownstone is the most fascinating thing he's seen all morning.I glance at him as I pull out of the driveway. His jaw is tight, his fingers drumming lightly on his knee—a tell I've picked up over the past few weeks.He's thinking hard about something, and I have no idea what it is. Since this morning, there's been this subtle shift. He's also been avoiding my eyes just a beat too long. Something feels a bit off."You good?" I ask casually, merging into traffic. The streets are buzzing with the usual Monday rush.Aiden turns his head, blinking like I pulled him from a trance. "Yeah. Why?"I shrug, keeping my eyes on the road. "You seem... quiet. A bit distracted." Internal alarm bells are ringing f

Nikolai's POV I don't even know why I bothered coming. I can’t believe I let this get under my nerves.Viktor picks up the minute I call, like always.“Boss?”“Silas,” I say. My voice is low and clipped. “I want eyes on him. Now.”“Copy that,” Viktor responds, not bothering to ask for more information.I hang up and shove the phone back in my pocket.I’m halfway down the block, trying to walk off the adrenaline before I head to my car, when my phone buzzes again.I glance at the screen and actually stop dead on the sidewalk.Mom.Of fucking course.Why the hell is she calling?? She hardly ever calls.I let it ring twice more, debating whether to pick. I could ghost her. Send her to voicemail. But she'll just call again and again until I eventually give in.I answer.“Nikolai.”As always, she'll go straight to business. Classic.“Mother,” I say, laying the sarcasm on thick. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”“We need to see each other. Tonight.”I rub my forehead. I can feel a headache

CHAPTER THIRTYNikolai's POV I pulled up to the curb outside the campus. It was only twenty minutes past when I’d said I’d be here—the traffic on the bridge had been a nightmare and I'd learned some very... disturbing information at the office regarding what Aiden had asked me to look into, his father.But still, I wasn't that late. Definitely not late enough for the death glare Aiden was throwing at me through the windshield.He yanked the passenger door open before I’d even fully stopped, dropped into the seat, and slammed it shut hard enough to rattle the whole frame.“Hey, babe,” I tried, keeping my voice light. “Sorry I’m—”“It's all good,” he cut in, flashing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes at all. “You can drive. I'm just a bit tired.”I glanced over as I pulled away from the curb. He had his arms crossed tight, staring straight ahead. His jaw was clenched tight. “What's really going on, Aiden? You’ve been ‘just tired’ for like two weeks straight,” I said, trying not to so