AshLee Frazier was cut by The Bachelor star Sean Lowe as he narrowed his love search to two women during last night's broadcast of the ABC reality dating series' seventeenth season.

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AshLee, a 32-year-old personal organizer from Houston, TX, was eliminated during the ninth episode's Rose Ceremony after Sean had one-on-one overnight fantasy suite dates with each of his three final bachelorettes.

"This wasn't a silly game to me. This wasn't about a joy ride and about laughter and joking and having fun. It's hard to say goodbye to Sean because I let him in and I loved him. I just feel real heavy in my heart. It's the ultimate reject. I really thought Sean was 'the one,'" AshLee said in tears following her ouster.

The Bachelor's ninth seventeenth-season episode began with Sean and the remaining three bachelorettes traveling from Los Angeles, CA, where the last Rose Ceremony took place, to Si Kao, Thailand for their fantasy overnight dates.

Before starting his week of fantasy dates in Thailand, Sean reiterated his feelings for AshLee; Catherine Giudici, a 26-year-old graphic designer from Seattle, WA; and Lindsay Yenter, a 24-year-old substitute teacher from Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and what he found special and attractive about each woman.

He expressed how he had an immediate spark with Catherine and believed she was sweet, funny, intelligent, nerdy, and goofy and serious at times. Their morals and values were in sync, while they also had a romantic element to their relationship that was "off the charts."

Sean then went on to say how he probably had the strongest relationship with AshLee, who had one of the biggest hearts he's ever come across and was giving, caring, open, and honest. As for Lindsay, Sean thought she was loving, caring, generous, supportive, and hilarious. The Bachelor star said a spark between them had developed into a flame and everything they wanted emotionally, spiritually and physically matched up.

Sean's first date of the week was with Lindsay. The couple checked out the local market together and even bravely ate bugs to prove their willingness to try everything and anything together. Sean said he wanted to live an adventurous, fun life, and he could see doing that with Lindsay at his side. Sean felt he was dating his high school sweetheart when in Lindsay's presence and he loved that feeling.

The pair then walked to a nearby beach and Lindsay was hoping she'd find the right time to express her true feelings for Sean and admit she was in love with him. Sean told Lindsay her family had verified she was ready to settle down and have a family, which he liked to hear, and Lindsay confirmed she would love to start a life with him. Sean told his bachelorette they were capable of having fun in any situation and she was certainly the best friend-type of girl he was looking for.

Lindsay then told the cameras that as she talked to Sean, her fears of rejection faded away and everything made sense. The week prior, she told Sean she was falling in love with him, and after spending more time with him, Lindsay realized she was ready to say those three powerful words with confidence. During their date at the beach, the couple fed monkeys as the sun was setting behind them and Sean noted Lindsay had everything he was looking for and could be his wife.

"I haven't told Sean that I love him because I'm scared of getting hurt. It's terrifying, but I don't want to look back and regret the way I did it. All I can think about it how important it is to tell Sean exactly how I feel or else it might be ruined if I don't open up," Lindsay explained.

That night, the couple had dinner in front of traditional Thai floats that lit up and blew Lindsay away. She said she felt she was in heaven. There were flowers made of petals on the ground and candles everywhere. Lindsay admitted she was "crazy in love" with Sean and wanted to tell him how strongly she felt about him.

Lindsay then told Sean she felt blessed and if they were to get engaged, she'd be willing to move to Dallas to be with him. Lindsay explained how she was excited for their life to start because they wanted the same things, and she said he made her so happy.

The pair then kissed and Lindsay was frustrated because she kept getting tongue-tied when an opportunity presented itself to tell Sean she loved him. Right when it seemed like the perfect moment to tell him, Lindsay began telling Sean she took everything seriously and loved what he thought about her and how he saw her. She said she wasn't going to take anything for granted, even how she was feeling. But then dancers came rushing out to music and interrupted their conversation.

Sean then offered Lindsay the overnight date card, which allowed the bachelorette and the Bachelor to forego their individual rooms and spend the night together in a fantasy suite. Lindsay told Sean she'd love to spend that time with him. Sean realized then and there he was falling in love and he said there was a possibility they'd look back on that night one day and reflect on the night they determined they'd spend the rest of their lives together.

Lindsay then looked Sean in his eyes and after a moment of hesitation, she said, "I love you." Lindsay said it was a life-changing moment for her and Sean noted it felt so good to hear and he was inspired by his feelings of love for Lindsay.

The next day, Sean went on his one-on-one date with AshLee at the Pakmeng Pier. Sean said he was also falling in love with her. Meanwhile, AshLee was feeling "an overwhelming joy" in Sean's presence, and she envisioned a life of adventurous fun with him. She explained how she was an elated woman, like a "school girl in love," and loved him more than words could express. However, she wasn't sure where the Bachelor's head was at.

Sean then brought AshLee to Emerald Cave, a very dark cave in the middle of the ocean water, as a surprise. AshLee was scared to follow Sean in that cave, but she trusted him even though the feeling of abandonment was rising inside her. Sean needed to know if she was capable of trusting him, but AshLee was secretly freaking out, terrified and vulnerable, and she told the cameras it wasn't her cup of tea at all. Sean himself even got a little nervous inside the pitch-black cave.

AshLee said she knew she was taking a risk by dating Sean and going on The Bachelor because she could potentially not be "the one" in the end. But she was at least grateful and content with the fact she had committed herself to changing her way of thinking and let go. If she didn't let go of her fear of abandonment and control issues, she noted she wouldn't be capable of falling in love.

Sean loved feeling like he was AshLee's protector while the explored the cave. Afterward, the pair found their way out of the cave and discovered a small private beach surrounded by lush forest. The only way to get to the beach was through the cave and Sean was taken aback by the beautiful location.

AshLee told the cameras she was looking for someone to be the missing puzzle piece in her life to make her feel whole. She said if Sean proposed to her at the end of their journey, she would say yes without a doubt in her mind because he made her feel loved and cared for.

That night, the couple shared a romantic candle-lit dinner on the beach. AshLee admitted she was worried about the overnight date because she didn't take spending a night with a man lightly, especially knowing there were two other girls involved and still in the picture. She didn't want to morally put herself out there when Sean was probably doing the same with two other girls. Ultimately, AshLee hoped Sean would be on the same page about everything, and little did she know until they spoke about it, that they were.

The couple talked about why they were still single in their late twenties and early thirties, and both individuals agreed they hadn't met the right person and wanted to accomplish things first. AshLee, however, told Sean she was glad she waited to get married rather than settling just because she reached a certain age, and Sean said he admired her for so many reasons and truly thought she was an amazing person. Sean told AshLee he had never met someone who knew exactly what they wanted like she did.

"This is amazing that this is happening to me. You hear about people finding each other and falling in love together, and for it to actually be happening to me, is crazy. But as great of a time as I'm having with Sean, there is a big decision that needs to be made tonight and it's that overnight date card. If it doesn't feel right, then I don't know what I'm going to do. I want to do what feels right to me," AshLee explained.

Sean then offered AshLee the fantasy date card. He said he was falling in love with her and could picture her in the end. Sean then shared his intentions with AshLee, saying he just wanted to stay up with her all night talking away from distractions and cameras. AshLee said she agreed it was important to have that time but worried about a "boundary" being crossed.

However, after saying she knew where Sean stood in their relationship and she trusted him, she gladly accepted the invitation. AshLee's heart just wanted to spend time with Sean alone and she knew every minute with him counted and he'd respect her.

"Sean's my soulmate. Honestly, before I met Sean, I definitely had a broken spirit I guess. And this man has literally healed my broken heart. If I had anything to do with it, I will spend the rest of my life with this man and I will do everything in my power to make sure he's happy," AshLee told the cameras.

The following day, Catherine met up with Sean for their date at Ao Nang Beach. They took a tugboat around the island and Sean needed to find out whether they had the same life goals and wanted to live their lives the same way. All he did know, however, was that he really missed her when she wasn't around. Catherine said she was always so happy when she was with Sean. She told the Bachelor although she was silly all the time with him, she could also be serious and open.

Catherine told Sean she was happy and lucky he could handle how weird she was and like her for exactly who she was. Sean assured her that he loved her "weirdness." He knew Catherine fit the best friend mold, but he wanted to find out whether she could see herself moving to Dallas and settling down with him. Catherine insisted she'd be willing to move and then voiced her concerns about how difficult her sisters had been on her.

Catherine said her best friends knew more about how ready she was for commitment than her sisters. She also learned in her last relationship why she should no longer be afraid of commitment and being with Sean helped that because she felt so comfortable around him. Sean admitted Catherine had put his mind at ease now knowing she'd be willing to move to Dallas and potentially start a family.

Catherine was afraid to tell Sean she was falling in love with him but knew her feelings were strong. She couldn't believe a great man like Sean was attracted to and wanted her just like she wanted him. The couple then kissed in the rain and Catherine said she felt like she was in the clouds. She was ready and wanted to be with him.

That night, the pair enjoyed dinner and Sean said he felt Catherine "gets him" better than anyone else and it was a good thing because he "gets her" too. Catherine told Sean she saw herself married with a child in five years. She insisted although she was "weird," she was a traditional girl in relationships. Catherine was scared of being vulnerable and more intimate with Sean in the fantasy suite, and while she never thought she'd go through with it or let herself do it because she wanted to be viewed as a lady, she realized it was all about getting time with Sean.

Sean told Catherine he simply wanted some uninterrupted hours with her, and then he told the cameras he was attracted to the fact Catherine was nervous about the fantasy suite. After receiving the invitation, Catherine accepted and said she would love to.

"When I first met Sean, I never thought that a boy like him would like a girl like me. And going through this process and being completely myself and having him accept that, it makes me understand that I do deserve somebody like that and I want to be with somebody like that. I want Sean. I want to be with Sean," she said.

Catherine then told Sean that she didn't just like him because he was "beefy and hunky" but because of who he was and what he had to offer. She admitted she had been made fun of in her life for being chubby and stuff and had never been in a bathing suit more times in her past than she had been on the show. Sean was surprised to hear the news, assuring Catherine she was "smoking hot" and he was "the lucky one."

The couple then kissed and Catherine said she felt safe with Sean and capable of exploring things with him. She knew he'd treat her like a lady, and she felt like nothing else in the world mattered when she looked into his eyes. Catherine told the cameras she fell in love with Sean that day and wanted him to be her husband. She felt they were meant to be together.

The next morning, Sean woke up knowing whom he needed to send home. He said he knew how special this girl was and what she brought to the table, and that placed fear inside him in regards to letting her go. Sean then talked to The Bachelor host Chris Harrison and said he was dwelling on the idea of whom to eliminate and dreading the act of sending her home. Sean was convinced this woman really cared for him and he felt strongly for her in return, but his two other relationships were simply stronger.

Sean said he felt very guilty to hurt someone because he had been in that position before when The Bachelorette star Emily Maynard blindsided and eliminated him during the same week. Letting go of this girl "killed" him inside, because Sean told Chris she was so full of love and he didn't want to break her heart. While Sean said sending Desiree Hartsock home was his hardest decision yet, this Rose Ceremony definitely trumped it.

Sean then confidently told Chris he would be getting down on one knee at the end of his The Bachelor journey.

However, he admitted he wasn't 100% percent confident in his decision and worried about making a mistake he'd end up regretting. He feared sending the wrong woman away. Afterward, Sean received video messages from each of his three remaining bachelorettes, who reiterated their emotional journeys on the show and feelings of love for him. Sean hoped the videos wouldn't cloud his judgement and confuse him further since he had pretty much decided on which two girls to keep around.

At this point in the episode, Sean still didn't reveal whom he was sending home but it was AshLee. He told the cameras he wanted to be the man who loved her forever, but he knew he wasn't supposed to be with her. Sean said he was heartbroken at the idea of hurting her and concerned she wouldn't be okay again after getting rejected -- or in her case, abandoned. 

That night, the Rose Ceremony commenced. Sean told the girls he had the most amazing week with three of the most beautiful women he had ever met. He also shared how it was the same week Emily sent him home from Curacao during his The Bachelorette experience and his worst fear was making one of the girls feel the way he did -- blindsided, shocked and hurt. He wanted the girl to know how much she meant to him and how "incredibly hard" it was for him to make the decision.

Lindsay then said "f-ck" before he handed out his first rose, presumably thinking it may be her going home.

Sean then gave his two roses to Lindsay and then Catherine after a long brutal pause.

AshLee's face went blank and she looked devastated, walking out without saying goodbye to the girls or giving Sean a hug. Sean asked to walk her out, but she firmly asked him to "just stay there" in his place. Sean was desperate however to get in an explanation, and AshLee finally agreed to silently listen.

"I want you to go away with closure and I want you to know why I made my decision. I thought it was you from the very beginning. Our relationship was, there was a lot of intensity there, and this was honestly the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I think the world of you. I don't want you to ever doubt that. I hope you know where I'm coming from," Sean explained. "I did not want to hurt you."

After giving Sean a blank stare, she quietly said, "Alright," and stepped in the car.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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