Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon are standing up to critics who claim their relationship and engagement is just a publicity stunt.
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As fans are well aware, Ashley fell in love with Jared the moment they met on Bachelor in Paradise's second season in 2015.
However, other than a couple of dates and kisses over the next few years, Jared kept Ashley in the friend zone -- until she began dating Kevin Wendt from The Bachelor Winter Games and Jared realized he might lose her forever.
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Jared therefore pursued Ashley and won her heart, and fans were shocked when the pair confirmed in May they had been romantically involved since March.
Ashley added of the alleged publicity stunt, "That's the one thing -- that's the one hater comment -- that really gets to me."
It did, however, take Jared three years and many arguments and tears to recognize Ashley was the one for him.
"I think one of the biggest things I had to put aside in my pursuit of Ashley was all the shame and guilt. I think that really consumed my life for the past couple of years, and it was very difficult to tell whether I was doing the right thing and whether I was making the right decisions," Jared explained.
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"We had a lot of adult conversations, tough conversations, about what we meant to each other, who we are in each other's lives."
Ashley then joked, "Yeah, I knew it, guys! See! I knew there was something more."
"I was ready to settle for a lesser life and I had a decision to make: Whether I fight for the things I want and I fight for Ashley or I continue living in my bubble," Jared confessed.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOWRight now, Ashley and Jared are enjoying their time together and planning a wedding for August 2019.
The couple also both revealed on GMA they want to have two children and determine afterwards whether they'd like to welcome a third baby.
Ashley and Jared already have one name picked out for a kid, but they opted not to reveal it just yet.
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Ashley and Jared got engaged on June 17 in Mexico, and the big moment will air as part of Bachelor in Paradise's upcoming fifth season.
Ashley found fame when she competed on Season 19 of The Bachelor starring Chris Soules, while Jared joined Bachelor Nation when he fought to win Kaitlyn Bristowe's heart on The Bachelorette's eleventh season.
After Bachelor in Paradise 2, both Ashley and Jared returned to Mexico for Season 3 in 2016. During that season, Ashley cried for days as she watched Jared pursue the lovely Caila Quinn.
Ashley then met and dated Kevin, a Toronto firefighter, on the franchise's Winter Games spinoff earlier this year. She broke up with him, however, because there was a spark missing and she had trouble envisioning a forever with him.
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
