Married at First Sight: Happily Ever After featured Jephte Pierre telling Shawniece Jackson he loves her and big things happening for the other two couples during Tuesday night's finale episode on Lifetime.
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The Married at First Sight spinoff, which just wrapped its first season on Lifetime, starred Jephte and Shawniece from Season 6 of Married at First Sight which was set in Boston, Bobby Dodd and Danielle Bergman from Season 7 which took place in Dallas, and Ashley Petta and Anthony D'Amico from Season 5 that was filmed in Chicago.
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At the time filming commenced for Happily Ever After, all three couples were expecting their first child together, and Shawniece and Jephte eventually welcomed their daughter Laura Denise.
Married at First Sight: Happily Ever After - The Finale
The finale broadcast began with the last week of each couple's Happily Ever After journey.ADVERTISEMENT
Jephte cooked a nice stuffed-peppers dinner for Shawniece to show how much he cared about her. He wanted to prove his desire to fight for their marriage through his actions rather than just his words.
Jephte was trying to take some things off Shawniece's plate since she's an overwhelmed and stressed-out new mom.
Jephte had some trouble cooking, but it was a labor of love. Shawniece said he looked "fine" while making her a nice meal, and it felt really good to see her husband in this new light.
Shawiece was surprised because Jephte's dinner came out very good. Jephte called cooking "fun" and could imagine doing more of it once he's off on paternity leave.
And at the end of the meal, Shawniece gave her husband a little kiss.
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Meanwhile, Anthony came home with a lot of items for their baby's nursery. Anthony admitted he had to "step up" to take some of the pressure off Ashley.
Ashley thought the items Anthony bought were very cute, and she was both impressed and surprised by her husband taking the lead and showing initiative.
As for Bobby and Danielle, they had movers coming over to help them pack up the house so they could stage and show their home to potential buyers and put it on the market.
Bobby knew Danielle wanted to move before their baby's arrival, but he admitted they were not going to accept an offer if it meant losing money.
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"Bobby needs to pitch in a little bit more. If we don't get this done ASAP, we can't get our house listed, which means we're probably not moving until after the baby is born -- which is literally my worst fear," Danielle told the cameras.
"I think it's stressful now trying to get packed up to move, so I honestly cannot imagine adding a newborn to the picture."
Bobby confessed he and his wife weren't seeing "eye to eye" because he thought staging a home was "a waste of time and money."
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Shawniece and Jephte were then shown participating in a photo shoot with their adorable daughter. The couple's photographer was the same person behind their wedding photos.
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Jephte said it was "an amazing moment" because he was in a much better place with his wife than the pair were in a year ago.
Shawniece even bought Jephte and Laura matching outfits, which Jephte really appreciated since he often misses special moments with his newborn due to work requirements.
Afterward, Bobby and Danielle welcomed strangers into their home for their first open house.
Bobby brought up some good points, that their house may not get an offer at all or it may receive a low offer. Bobby also pointed out that if their house sold and they had yet to find a new one, where would they go?
Danielle acknowledged it would be in their best interest to take the house off the market in a couple of months if they couldn't find a new place or the house didn't sell by then.
"Bobby lets me get my way a lot, but I think in order to have a successful marriage, there has to be compromise, and we're in a place where I have to start heading in that direction for the sake of our family," Danielle told the cameras.
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The Married at First Sight experts then asked each individual to write a letter to his or her baby girl.
The letters were incredibly sweet, with each couple expressing gratitude and thanks to each other. Promises of effort, patience and understanding were made, and it appeared all of the cast members were extremely excited to become parents.
This activity was a big deal for Danielle especially since she struggles to open up and communicate her feelings.
Danielle tried her best to be vulnerable because she didn't grow up in an expressive family.
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This shared experience also built on Jephte and Shawniece's foundation. Jephte felt closer to his wife, and he teared up while reading his letter because he loves his daughter so much.
"I know he's going to be a great father, but I think him being a great husband is just going to take time," Shawniece said in a confessional.
Later on, the three couples sat down with either Pastor Calvin Roberson, Dr. Jessica Griffin or Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Married at First Sight's experts and matchmakers.
"I think I've always been a private person, so I think me sharing my feelings, it just takes a little bit," Anthony explained to the cameras.
"Ashley and I have only been married for two years, but I'm getting better. She's my wife and I love her."
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During Jephte and Shawniece's sit-down discussion with Dr. Jessica, Jephte insisted he truly cared for Shawniece or else he never would have returned following their temporary separation.
Through the highs and lows of their relationship, Jephte said he was securely planted in his new family and he was doing everything in his power to grow to love Shawniece romantically.
"Shawniece and I have a second chance at making this work," Jephte noted.
Meanwhile, Pastor Cal was thrilled to see how happy Bobby and Danielle seemed. Danielle no longer felt sick all of the time, and Bobby said it was "sweet."
The couple's intimacy had improved drastically, according to Danielle, and their lull better prepared them for life once the baby comes. Danielle acknowledged it would be important for them to find the time for their physical connection.
Bobby said Danielle is more sensitive than people see on TV and she's going to be a very loving mother.
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Anthony and Ashley then walked into their new house and began envisioning what the baby's nursery was going to look like. Ashley joked they may need to hire someone to help them.
Anthony was very happy with where he and his wife stood in their relationship and their marrage, and they both gushed to each other about how happy they were.
"I think we are just going to grow deeper in love when we have a child, and I can't wait for that," Ashley said.
Afterward, Danielle was feeling better and so she set aside some time to spoil Bobby and allow him to completely let loose and relax. After all, he had taken care of her and their household for the past three months.
Not only did Danielle do dishes and cook, but she gave Bobby a harmonica to use so she would be at his beck and call. Bobby, however, playfully took advantage of his harmonica privileges.
Bobby really appreciated Danielle's gesture, and the day ended in a sweet cuddle session for the couple.
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"I love that she's taking a step up now that she's feeling better. She seems like she's getting back to her old self and I can't wait to get back to the honeymoon stage. I love her with all that I have," Bobby said.
The episode concluded with Shawniece and Jephte taking a trip down memory lane by revisiting a location near the spot where they had tied the knot. Everything had come full circle, and Shawniece found herself with everything she wanted in life.
"I know this past year has been crazy. There have been ups and downs, and out of those ups and downs came this beautiful baby girl that we both love dearly. While we are here, I want to make you a few promises," Jephte told his wife.
"As a father, I'm always going to be there, and as a husband, I am trying. I am really trying. I want to make sure you know I'm not here just for her; I am here to make sure that we get through this, and I do love you. I don't say it much, but I'm just trying to build on it and have it grow."
Shawniece broke down into tears and told Jephte that she needed him -- not only for their daughter but for herself.
"Let's just keep trying, alright?" Jephte asked.
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The pair exchanged a kiss and embraced, and then Shawniece said, "We can possibly do this for a lifetime."
An update was then provided on each couple: Ashley and Anthony moved into their new home and are adjusting to life in the suburbs, Danielle found her dream home and Bobby accepted the offer price on his former house, and Jephte took three months of paternity leave so Shawniece could resume working.
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