Chapter 111

The marketplace was operating so openly now?

Emily Johnson had been staying home recently, completely unaware of the changes outside.

"Nobody's enforcing the restrictions anymore, so the black market isn't being monitored," Michael Stone explained.

"I bought so many things!" Emily's eyes sparkled. "If I'd had more money, I would've emptied that vendor's entire basket!"

"What did you get?"

"Winter clothes and shoes for the kids, some soap..." She paused suddenly. "Actually, do you know how to knit?"

Michael blinked at the abrupt subject change.

"I don't, but Mother does. Maybe you could ask her?"

"You don't know how?" Emily seemed genuinely surprised.

In her eyes, this man could do practically anything.

Under her gaze, Michael shifted uncomfortably before inspiration struck. "Maybe... I could learn?"

"You? Learning to knit?" Emily nearly laughed aloud. "No thanks, I don't need the whole village gossiping about us."

The last thing she wanted was rumors about "the Stone wife mistreating her husband" circulating tomorrow.

"I'll try it myself first. If it doesn't work out, I'll just buy ready-made ones in town," Emily planned aloud.

Michael nodded. Winter sweaters were indeed necessary for warmth.

"Call me by my name," Emily said suddenly.

"But you are my wife," Michael replied matter-of-factly.

Emily considered something else. "How old are you?"

"Twenty-five. Why?"

Twenty-five? Younger than her? Emily's pulse quickened slightly.

"Has your birthday passed already?" She wondered about getting him a gift.

"Yes, yes," Michael answered quickly, then changed the subject. "Did your parents send you anything?"

Emily decided to test the waters. "They wrote asking me to return to the city."

"Return?" Michael's chest tightened.

Every letter from her family in previous years had caused emotional turmoil. Now with her memory loss...

"They want me to go back for studies," Emily observed his reaction carefully.

Michael's brow furrowed. The situation was likely more complicated than that.

"So... will you go?" His voice held tension.

"No." Emily's answer was firm. "I don't remember anything now. To them, I'd just be a stranger. Who knows what schemes they might have."

The letter had been full of inconsistencies. Having taken over this identity, she needed to understand the full situation first.