The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 1172

Stella frowned, struggling to open her eyes.

A few feet away, a campfire crackled and glowed, its warmth filling the small cave. Suspended above the flames hung a battered little pot, steam billowing from its bubbling contents.

Joshua stood with his back to her, stirring the pot with a spoon.

Stella coughed softly, her voice hoarse. "What are you doing?"

At the sound of her voice, Joshua turned around.

"You're awake, good. Here-try to eat something first."

She blinked in surprise. "Eat something?"

Joshua ladled a bowl of soup from the pot and brought it over to her.

Only as he drew closer did Stella realize what it was—a bowl of mushroom soup.

The earthy aroma drifted through the cave, and even though her body still felt dull and weak, a faint hunger stirred within her.

She looked from the soup to Joshua, curiosity overcoming her. "Mushrooms? Where did you find them?"

-probably leftovers from that abandoned campsite they'd stumbled upon earlier.

the mushrooms just outside,"

foolish for asking. Maybe her fever

spoon from a nearby bowl. "You need something hot in your system if you want to get

her any good right now. Judging by her state, she probably couldn't have kept them down anyway, so

it was little more than clear broth

guessed at the source of her worry. "Don't worry—I checked them. None of these

wrapping her fingers around its warmth, and

The soup was unexpectedly

was just that she hadn't eaten

soup tasted like a

the mushrooms carefully, trimming away every bit of dirt, even the roots. The bowl and spoon, too-she realized he must have washed

gentle warmth had spread through her, clearing the fog in her mind more than

"Want some more? I

head. "No,

still sick, after all-her appetite wasn't likely to be much

himself a bowl and sat down

sky had already begun to darken; another day

gloom beyond the cave entrance. "Looks like it'll gain again tonight.