She’s Done. He’s Breaking novel Chapter 10

**Chapter 10**

“How did you hurt your knee?” Hayden inquired, his brow furrowing with concern.

Stella offered a feeble shake of her head, her heart heavy with the weight of her unspoken thoughts. She had no desire to delve into the details. “It’s nothing,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hayden respected her silence, and the atmosphere in the room grew thick with unspoken words.

After a moment of contemplation, Stella broke the stillness. “Professor Jenkins, I want to go abroad with my baby,” she declared, her voice steady but laced with urgency.

Hayden’s curiosity piqued. “Why?” he asked, his eyes narrowing as he tried to gauge her intentions.

Placing a gentle hand over her belly, Stella gazed up at the ceiling, as if seeking answers from the universe. “I don’t trust the Somertons with my child,” she confessed, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination.

“But the Somertons want this baby. How do you plan to leave with her?” Hayden countered, his tone shifting to one of practicality.

Stella felt the truth of his words weigh heavily on her. He was right; she had no authority to take the baby away. Eloise, in her possessive love for the child, valued her more than anything else, leaving Stella feeling powerless.

As if sensing her turmoil, Hayden rose from his seat and gently pulled the blanket up to cover her. His comforting presence enveloped her. “Stop overthinking it, Stella. Focus on your recovery and on taking care of yourself. That’s what truly matters right now.”

Just then, Justin returned, accompanied by a nurse, who entered the room with a professional air. She was there to administer medication to Stella’s injured knee, prompting the two men to step outside for a moment of privacy.

Justin wasted no time in pressing Hayden for information. “So, what happened between her and Tristan today?” he asked, a hint of mischief in his voice.

“I’m not entirely sure,” Hayden replied, his mind still preoccupied with Stella’s earlier revelation.

Justin let out a long sigh, the kind that hinted at deeper frustrations. “Tristan is probably going to kick her to the curb soon. You won’t believe who I saw him with today.”

Hayden turned his gaze toward Justin, curiosity piqued despite himself.

Justin leaned in closer, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Take a guess.”

Hayden remained silent, his expression unreadable as he stared at Justin, unwilling to play his game.

With a playful nudge, Justin urged him on. “Come on—guess!”

Hayden finally looked away, his disinterest palpable. “You’re lame,” he muttered, dismissing Justin’s antics.

Justin, undeterred, finally revealed the name. “The eldest heiress of MK Group, Audrey York.”

Hayden’s face remained impassive, much to Justin’s surprise. He leaned in, searching for any hint of emotion that might flicker across Hayden’s stoic features.

With a look of disgust, Hayden pushed Justin away. “Don’t get your drool on me.”

“You really have no reaction at all,” Justin remarked, casting a side-eye that clearly conveyed his disbelief at Hayden’s indifference.

With a dramatic sigh, Justin conceded defeat. “No wonder you’re the legendary Professor Jenkins, the man who never wavers. You turned down Ms. York while Tristan treats her like she’s made of gold.”

Hayden was left momentarily speechless, grappling with the absurdity of the situation.

The nurse emerged from the room, signaling that her work was done.

Stella had decided to stay overnight at the hospital, so Hayden arranged for a caretaker to look after her. Knowing she hadn’t eaten, he ordered dinner to be delivered later, ensuring she would be taken care of.

Before leaving the hospital with Justin, he offered her a few gentle reminders, his concern evident in his voice.

After a night in the hospital, Stella felt a renewed sense of strength. The nurse had carefully applied medicine to her knee, a task made difficult by her growing belly.

Hayden arrived early the next morning, breakfast in hand. “How are you feeling?” he asked, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of distress.

Stella’s complexion had brightened, and she met his gaze with a smile. “I’m fine now. Thank you, Professor.”

“That’s wonderful to hear. You should eat your breakfast now,” he encouraged, setting the tray down in front of her.

Once she had finished her meal, Stella prepared to leave the hospital.

Hayden handed her a black down jacket. “It’s cold outside. You should wear this for now.”

Although it was his jacket, it fit her surprisingly well, wrapping her in warmth and comfort.

They exited the hospital and climbed into the car, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. Stella needed to return to Sentella Bay to collect her belongings and her phone. Staying there any longer felt unbearable.

When they arrived at the villa, the clock struck 9:00 am. Tristan should have already left for work, or so she hoped.

Hayden had an important meeting to attend after dropping her off, so she bid him farewell and stepped inside the house.

Once, she had called Yelena by her name in private, only to be met with a cold glare and a stern warning.

“It’s fine to pretend in front of outsiders, but don’t call me that in private. I haven’t accepted you as my daughter-in-law!” Yelena’s voice echoed in her mind, a reminder of the boundaries that had been established.

Tristan emerged from the dining room, spotting Yelena. “Mom, what brings you here?” he asked, his tone casual.

Yelena replied, “You go ahead and handle your work. I need to talk to her.”

Tristan nodded, not pressing for details, and headed upstairs.

Yelena settled onto the sofa, while Stella stood before her, bracing herself for the reprimand she knew was inevitable.

Yelena’s sharp gaze fell upon Stella’s baby bump, and she spoke with a chilling tone. “You may be carrying Tristan’s child, and Mom may care about her great-granddaughter, but that doesn’t give you the right to throw your weight around here.”

Stella listened quietly, her eyes cast downward. She was already certain that Lily had been whispering behind her back, fueling Yelena’s disdain.

“Just look at yourself. What makes you think you’re worthy of Tristan? You should know your place,” Yelena continued, her voice dripping with irritation and contempt.

The more she looked at Stella, the more her dislike intensified. She couldn’t believe that Tristan had chosen a woman like Stella to marry, let alone have a child with.

If Eloise hadn’t insisted on keeping the baby girl, Yelena would have never agreed to this arrangement in the first place.

Stella clenched her fists tightly, keeping her head down, refusing to offer any rebuttal.

From the side, Lily chimed in, eager to stoke the flames. “She probably thinks she can use the baby to elevate her status. She even dared to talk back to Mr. Somerton.”

Yelena’s expression darkened further, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Stella. “How dare you!”

Freya entered with tea and pastries, attempting to diffuse the tension. “Mrs. Somerton, please don’t let this ungrateful woman upset you. It’s not worth it.”

“Stella, I’m warning you—if you act up again, you can get out of this house the second the baby is born!” Yelena’s voice was cold and unyielding.

Finally, Stella looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You’re right. I’m not worthy of being Mrs. Somerton, but—ah!”

Before she could finish her thought, Yelena snatched a cup of hot tea and hurled its contents straight at Stella’s face. At that moment, Tristan, who had been making his way down the stairs, witnessed the entire scene unfold before his eyes.