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?"

The pot and utensils, she noticed, looked well-used -probably leftovers from that abandoned campsite they'd stumbled upon earlier.

mushrooms just

a bit foolish for asking. Maybe her fever was

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

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

soup. Though it was little more than clear broth and mushrooms, the fresh, wild

the source of her worry. "Don't worry—I

his hands, wrapping her

The soup was unexpectedly

tender and full of flavor Maybe it was just that she hadn't eaten anything in so long, but even

soup tasted like a

bit of dirt, even the roots. The bowl and spoon, too-she realized he must

spread through her, clearing the fog in her mind more

empty bowl. "Want

her head.

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

her. Instead, he poured himself a bowl and sat down to eat as

begun to darken; another day was

cave entrance. "Looks like it'll gain again