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?"

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

the mushrooms just outside,"

a bit foolish for asking. Maybe her fever was making her slow

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

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

on the soup. Though it was little more than clear broth

at the source of her worry. "Don't worry—I checked them. None of these are poisonous. You'll be

from his hands, wrapping her fingers around its warmth,

The soup was unexpectedly

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

soup tasted like a

the roots. The

had spread through her,

bowl. "Want some more?

her head.

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

didn't press her. Instead, he poured himself a bowl and sat down to eat

sky had already begun to darken; another day

toward the gloom beyond the cave entrance. "Looks