The sweet potato vendor''s eyes snapped wide, his gaze locking onto Anastasia so intently that hepletely forgot his hand was resting on the hot grill.


    The heat was no joke.


    Monica caught him staring and couldn''t help but tease, "Careful, boss! Doesn''t that burn? Men are all the same put a pretty girl in front of them and they go all mushy."


    That snapped him back. The vendor yanked his hand away, hissing in pain as he shook his fingers. He wiped them on his shirt, then quickly got it together, grabbing the tongs to turn over the sweet potatoes.


    Anastasia felt a little awkward and shot Monica a half-annoyed, half-amused look.


    Monica just grinned wider, slipping her arm through Anastasia''s. "Can you me him? You''re too gorgeous for your own good. Lucky you''re with me—if Herman knew, he''d never let you out by yourself."


    Anastasia smiled, throwing the vendor an apologetic nce. "My friend jokes a lot. Don''t mind her."


    He kept his head down, silent, quietly bundling the sweet potatoes into a paper bag. When he finished, he handed them over to Anastasia.


    "How much do we owe you?" she asked.


    He didn''t speak, just held up both hands—ten.


    Monica''s eyebrows shot up. "Ten bucks? That cheap? I remember when just one cost seven or eight! Two for ten-what, are we getting the pretty-girl discount? You''re a real businessman, boss."


    He nodded.


    The girls exchanged a look, assuming the vendor must be mute. Working a street stall in this freezing weather couldn''t be easy.


    "I don''t have any cash on me. Can I pay you on WhatsApp?" Anastasia pulled out her phone.


    He nodded again.


    Anastasia scanned his code and paid.


    As she reached to take the bag, her eyesnded by chance on a jagged scar across his forearm.


    Recognition crashed over her.


    Rowan.


    She remembered the first time they met he''d hurt that very arm. The scar was still there, unmistakable.


    Their eyes met for a split second, but in that moment, Anastasia''s heart turned upside down. She looked away almost instantly.


    He acted like he didn''t recognize her, and she wasn''t about to blow his cover.


    Forcing down her shock, Anastasia pulled Monica along.


    Monica gave the vendor a cheery wave. "We''ll be back next time, boss!"


    "Come on," Anastasia said, tugging Monica away.


    As they walked, Monica whispered, "Ana, that guy couldn''t take his eyes off you. You totally knocked him out."


    Anastasia didn''t answer. She had felt Rowan''s gaze-searing, impossible to ignore.


    She never imagined she''d run into Rowan here, like this, in the middle of a winter night on an ordinary street.


    He''d disappeared, and now he was back-just one more face in the crowd.


    Hanna still asked now and then if she''d heard any news about Rowan. But now, Anastasia wasn''t sure if she should say anything.


    This was Rowan''s choice, his way of spending his birthday. She would respect that.


    Rowan stood rooted in ce, watching until Anastasia was gone from sight.


    "Dad, what are you staring at? How''d business go today?" A little voice piped up behind him. When all sold out! Can we go home now? It''s


    freezing."


    A boy of about four or five, cute as a button with dimples and tiny tiger teeth, skipped over to him.


    This was Ethan, the orphan Rowan had adopted.


    Being alone was just too much sometimes, so Rowan had brought a child into his life forpany.


    He didn''t go by Rowan anymore-now, he was Tom.


    Tom pulled off his mask and started packing up. “Yep, all done. Let''s head home. I


    saved you a sweet potato-eat it if you get cold, it''ll warm you up."


    Ethan broke the potato in half and handed a piece to Tom. “Daddy, you eat too!


    When I''m big, I''ll roast sweet potatoes for you."


    Tom couldn''t help but smile. "I want you shooting for the stars, buddy. Don''t end up


    like your old man, roasting sweet potatoes on the street."


    Ethan grinned, pure pride in his eyes.


    "Who says you''re not sessful? Dad you''re the best! Your sweet potatoes are the best in town-everyone loves them."


    "If you don''t hit the books, you might not even get sweet potatoes," Tom said ruffling Ethan''s hair you''re my responsibility now. Spring''sing-you''ll start school soon."


    "Okay, Dad! When I grow up and get rich, I''ll take care of you," Ethan said, all


    seriousness. "Let me help you pack up."


    "Alright, champ."


    In the bite of winter, the sight of father and son packing up their little stall was nothing short of heartwarming.