Married at First Sight star Amber Bowles admits she suspected Matthew Gwynne was cheating on her during their relationship given all the nights he spent away from home during the eight-week marriage experiment.
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Amber and Matt's marriage got off to a great start on Married at First Sight's ninth season, as they had a mutual physical attraction and both seemed to want to settle down in North Carolina.
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But about midway through the Married at First Sight process, Matt began staying out late at night and sometimes refused to come home to Amber at all.
The pair lacked emotional intimacy, but Amber seemed to be the only spouse desperate to keep their relationship together.
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"I suspected Matt was cheating pretty early on," Amber told Reality TV World in an exclusive interview.
The first time Matt didn't come home to Amber after an alleged guys' night out with his friends left Amber in hysterics, bawling her eyes out about how she didn't feel wanted, loved or appreciated.
Not only did Matt basically disappear for 24 hours, but he apparently never texted or called Amber to let her know where he was staying or whom he was spending time with.
Amber also discovered Matt's wedding ring in his nightstand next to their bed that night he was gone.
"The fact that he left his ring home showed his nonchalance towards the marriage," Amber told Reality TV World.
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Amber ended up accepting a simple apology from her husband, who claimed at the time of his return home he had taken his wedding ring off to exercise and had just forgotten to put it back on.
When Reality TV World asked Amber to clarify how many nights Matt actually slept at their apartment during the show's eight-week filming period, Amber revealed, "Matt stayed at our apartment but would often come and go as he pleased."
A preview for the upcoming Married at First Sight episode airing September 4 on Lifetime shows Amber's best friend Raven informing her that he had seen Matt at a bar with another girl and Matt may have been unfaithful.
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Raven also applied for Married at First Sight's ninth season and was actually one of the candidates the show's experts were shown considering for Season 9 during the season's casting special.
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He also appears to really care about Amber and have her best interest at heart, so some Married at First Sight viewers have been wondering whether the pair ever dated or why Raven has remained in the friend zone.
"Raven and I have been friends for 14 years, and we care about each other deeply," Amber shared with Reality TV World.
"At this point, he is like a brother to me. We have never dated and never will."
During an episode of Married at First Sight: Unfiltered that aired last month, Amber's co-star Elizabeth Bice admitted she had suspicion Matt was cheating on Amber fairly early on in the process as well.
Elizabeth opened up to Unfiltered host Jamie Otis about how Amber seemed to ignore major red flags in her relationship with Matt, including his "cold" body language at times and his habit of disappearing for hours on end.
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"I think she's just really trying hard. She's trying. She's giving it 110 percent, and sometimes you just overlook things and you just try to keep working at it and working at it," Elizabeth explained.
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Jamie then asked Elizabeth, "Knowing what you know about Matt and Amber's rocky relationship, do you think Matt has held up his end of his vows -- being respectful, patient and kind?"
"No! He's definitely not done that!" Elizabeth replied.
"Let me put this kindly: Regardless of the circumstances, you can't wait eight weeks -- eight simple weeks [to] give something a shot and just try it and not hurt someone? I am referring him to staying out [that first] night."
In regards to Matt going out without his wedding ring, Elizabeth said, "In that moment, like, taking off your wedding ring and then 'allegedly' forgetting to put it back on, you don't forget to put your wedding ring back on! You knew you were doing something."
"[Even though] it's an experiment... you're committed to someone, regardless of how mad you are or whatever."
"It didn't even seem like they were mad at each other! You took your wedding ring off and then went out and didn't come home."
Elizabeth concluded, "One plus one equals two. That's not cute. It's not a cute look."
Amber had concerns throughout the Married at First Sight process Matt was not ready for marriage and tended to be selfish and focus on himself and his own priorities.
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During a recent episode of Married at First Sight's ninth season, Pastor Calvin Roberson actually confronted Matt about where he was going when he'd choose to stay out all night.
After three nights of disappearing, Pastor Cal asked Matt, "Where have you been when the cameras are off?! Where have you been?"
"I've been clearing my mind. Sometimes I need my own time and my own space," Matt replied.
"You do know this is destroying the marriage?" Pastor Cal asked. "Your behavior is saying you've been a lousy husband."
After Amber was shown suggesting to Dr. Viviana Coles that Matt might've been living "a double life," Pastor Cal asked Matt directly whether he had another woman in his life.
"The fact that is even in question is disappointing," Matt replied, insisted he had just been stressed out.
Married at First Sight's "Decision Day" is right around the corner for Matt and Amber, when they must decide whether to stay married or get a divorce.
Season 9's other three couples -- Elizabeth and Jamie Thompson, Iris Caldwell and Keith Manley, and Deonna McNeill and Gregory Okotie -- will also have to face the music.
RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHAT COUPLES ARE STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? (PHOTOS)
For more from Reality TV World's exclusive interview with Amber, click here.
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