MTL - I Just Want to Play the Game Quietly - Chapter 48 stepmother?

Jonathan Brandit was once on the path to becoming a professional basketball player, but a car accident changed his life forever, leaving him wheelchair-bound and filled with regret. Haunted by thoughts of what could have been, Jonathan spends his days shooting hoops in a gym. One day, he suffers a heart attack and wakes up in a completely different world, in the body of another person.To his astonishment, Jonathan realizes he's now living inside the world of a novel he once read, titled “Turning Point,” which revolves around basketball. He has become an “extra” player name Ethan Albarado—a benchwarmer—on the protagonist's team, Lucas Graves.With this unexpected second chance, Jonathan or Ethan Albarado is determined to achieve his dream of becoming a pro basketball player.But in this new world, will he rise to greatness, or will he face new challenges that threaten to bring him down again?

Once upon a time-travel leap, Mu Caiwei, the gold-medal bodyguard, turned into a poor peasant girl, Mu Caiwei, who starved to death.With nothing to their name, and an empty rice vat, facing a skinny, malnourished mother and a bunch of hungry younger siblings, Mu Caiwei rolled up her sleeves and shouted, “Sister's going to get rich!”Although she had followed a proud and aloof path in her past life, times were now different.At the small stall, Mu Caiwei donned an apron, zealously crying out, “Fried skewers, fried skewers, all kinds of fried skewers…”In the fabric store, Mu Caiwei expertly worked the abacus, “This Q version of damask should be sold for fifty taels of silver a piece…”……Soon, the people of the Great Jin Nation knew that the richest person in the Great Jin was not only a stunning, young girl, but also a generous and philanthropic individual!Mu Caiwei couldn't dream that she received a miracle — a magical space, by simply carrying out a few random acts of charity!She also received an extremely “embarrassing” — predestined marriage!In a nutshell: The stunning transition from poverty-stricken peasant girl to Empress!I'm not good with summaries, so please move on to the main text.

“Spread your legs...” That haunting command was all she remembered from the grey-eyed stranger—the man she shared a night with.Now, Ariana is branded as cursed. The girl who killed her mother. A silent omen wrapped in whispers and fear. But the truth? It’s locked inside her, buried beneath silence… because Ariana is mute.And when fate cruelly reunites her with the very man who started it all, how can she defend herself—when she cannot even speak?In a world where rumors are louder than truth, will anyone ever hear her side of the story?

In the Heart’s Kingdom, a kingdom where vampires reign and humans were nothing but livestock, Lilou, a peasant, found herself being preyed upon by the worst maniacal vampire of his kind. However, as terrifying as what he addressed her as his ‘reserved meal’, this vampire also called her his bride!

Except:

My eyes brood with fear, gazing at the still-beating heart in his hand. “My Lord, pardon me but… is this the bloody proof you promised to show me?” I asked, my voice shook as I gulped down whilst struggling my trembling knees from giving away.

“Mhm… do you now believe I’m good at capturing hearts?” The silver-haired man, bearing those menacing pair of deep crimson eyes stared proudly at me after a nod. I gasped when he clenched his hand and squeezed the fresh heart to smithereen.

“Yes, milord. You’re good at it, literally.” I’m mortified, watching the pieces of the heart fall as he approached. His every step made me take a step back until my back reached a solid pillar.

“Huh,” Samael chuckled briefly, stopping in front of me. His long, pointy nails that were covered with blood traced my elbow down to my hand. Gently, he clipped my forefinger in between his, guiding it before his lips. “Did I pass your test, though?” He asked, the sharp tip of his nail played over the tip of my finger.

I stared at his penetrating gaze as I reluctantly answered, “Barely.”

He smirked, nodding in satisfaction before he pressed his nail on the tip of my forefinger that was quick to produce a drop of blood. “Such sweet aroma.” He whispered, placing my bleeding finger in his mouth and licked it with passion.

His menacing gaze never left mine as he consumed a bit of my blood. “Does that mean you’re accepting my invitation?” Keeping my finger in between his fangs, Samael inquired.

I bit my lower lip unconsciously, my heart within my chest drummed as my back broke into sweats. “But… I’m just…” I paused, hoping my answer would put an end to this. “… I’m just a human.”

Samael clicked his tongue, displeased at my response as he let my finger go. “No,” He whispered.

My entire body stiffened when he bent over, caressing my shoulder up to my neck by the apex of his nose, as his hot breaths prickled my skin.

“You're not just a mere human... you are my human.” He stressed before I sensed his lips part and the tip of his fangs against my skin.