The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel 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?”

He set the bowl in front of her. The pot and utensils, she noticed, looked well-used—probably leftovers from that abandoned campsite they’d stumbled upon earlier. The pot itself was cracked on one side, but still usable.

“I picked the mushrooms just outside,” Joshua replied.

Stella suddenly felt a bit foolish for asking. Maybe her fever was making her slow—her head wasn’t working right.

Joshua rummaged for a clean spoon from a nearby bowl. “You need something hot in your system if you want to get your strength back.”

Wild berries 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 for mushrooms instead.

Joshua didn’t press her. Instead, he poured himself a bowl and sat down to eat as well.

Outside, the sky had already begun to darken; another day was slipping away.

Joshua looked toward the gloom beyond the cave entrance. “Looks like it’ll rain again tonight. I’ll go grab some more firewood. Once you’re a bit stronger tomorrow, I’ll get you out of here.”

Sure enough, as midnight crept in, rain began to drum against the rocks outside.

Stella listened to the steady downpour, watching Joshua as he added more branches to the fire.

“I can keep watch for a while if you want to get some sleep,” she offered.

Maybe it was all the napping she’d done during the day, but she didn’t feel tired at all. She’d blacked out last night and could only imagine how much Joshua had to do, looking after her and keeping them both safe through the night.

Joshua looked up at her, meeting her gaze.