Maquel Cooper, Marikh Mathias and Ashley Luebke were sent packing during the latest episode of The Bachelor, and now Arie Luyendyk Jr. is explaining why.
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Maquel, a 23-year-old photographer from Orem, UT, had to leave the competition when the cast was in South Lake Tahoe because she had learned her beloved grandfather at home passed away.
Maquel missed out on some time with Arie, but she returned once everyone traveled to Fort Lauderdale, FL -- only to be ousted several days later.
"I was so thankful that Maquel was able to return this week after spending time with her family, but our conversations this week left me realizing that the connection just wasn't there," Arie explained in his People blog.
"She has so much to offer, but our relationship was just too far behind and our chemistry too lacking to give her a rose."
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And then during the fifth Rose Ceremony of Season 22, Arie eliminated Marikh, a 27-year-old restaurant owner from Salt Lake City, UT, and Ashley, a 25-year-old real estate agent from West Palm Beach, FL, after choosing to give Krystal Nielson -- the villain of this season -- his last rose of the night.
"I feel super sad leaving," Marikh had said in the episode.
"I just think I came into this looking for someone that completed my life. I definitely felt that spark between us, but I worry he might end up with the wrong person and get his heart broken. I think Krystal is feeding him lies and he's believing them."
Arie admitted in his blog that he "knew" he "had to say goodbye" to Marikh and Ashley, although they were both "great" women.
"They're beautiful women, but in my heart of hearts, I knew they weren't my wife. These goodbyes are difficult, but if my gut tells me we aren't meant to be together, that's sometimes all I need to know," Arie explained.
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Arie has made some difficult decisions leading up to this point in his journey to find love on TV, but it apparently won't get any easier for The Bachelor star.
"This week was really stressful -- I wish I could say that the hard part of this ended now," Arie wrote.
"The two-on-one is next week, which I knew would be difficult but is even more insane and dramatic than I anticipated. Also, we finally go international. So come back and watch all the drama and the tears as the feelings of love kick into high gear."
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski