By Amber Goodhand - Breaking Celebrity News News Editor

When Kristen Stewart broke Robert Pattinson's heart, the last person the public expected him to run to was Reese Witherspoon, but Breaking Celebrity News has exclusively learned it was Reese who reached out to Rob.

According to a source close to the Twilight star, Reese has always looked at Rob like a little brother and the fact that she could relate to what he was going through prompted her to give him a place to stay and a shoulder to cry on.

"Reese went through a very public cheating scandal herself when Ryan Phillippe went outside their marriage and hooked up with Abbie Cornish, so her first thought when she heard about Kristen and Rob was to reach out to him and make sure he was okay," the insider exclusively revealed.

"Reese knows what it's like to be on display when your heart is broken, so she felt like opening up her home to Rob was the right thing to do."

Pregnant with her third child, the source says Reese's motherly instincts are in full force.

"She's not trying to lead Rob one way or the other regarding his future with Kristen," the source said.

"Reese and her husband Jim Toth are just giving Rob the space he needs and a place to stay that's far away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi."

Rob and Reese worked together in 2011's Water for Elephants -- but their friendship actually budded when Rob had a bit part that never made the final cut in Reese's