Alice never meant to fall in love with someone who was already taken—especially not her best friend’s stepbrother. Daniel is charming, reckless, and dangerously honest. To the world, he’s a playboy with a girlfriend. To Alice, he’s the boy who sees her when no one else does, who blurs boundaries with late-night conversations and stolen moments that feel too real to be meaningless. As Alice tries to be noticed, Daniel notices too well—drawing her closer while admitting his girlfriend is nothing more than a game. Caught between desire and conscience, Alice must face an uncomfortable truth: being wanted is not the same as being chosen. This is a story about longing, temptation, and the quiet heartbreak of loving someone who treats hearts like options.