Temptation Island featured Karl Collins and Nicole Tutewohl breaking up and Kady Cannon Krambeer dropping a bombshell on John Thurmond at the final bonfire meeting during Part 1 of the finale Tuesday night on USA Network.
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The established couples are Karl, 31, and Nicole, 25, who currently reside in Chicago, IL; John, 35, and Kady, 30, who currently reside in Fort Worth, TX; Evan Smith, 28, and Kaci Campbell, 29, who currently reside in Los Angeles, CA; and Javen Butler, 25, and Shari Ligons, 25, who currently reside in San Francisco, CA.
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The significant others -- who were at a crossroads in their relationships -- traveled together to the tropical paradise of Maui, Hawaii, to live the "single life," and each of them would have an opportunity to date up to 12 singles awaiting them.
The stakes were high and hearts were on the line, but each exclusive couple seemed pretty confident at first their bonds would outlast and conquer any temptation. However, everyone was taking a great risk.
The Temptation Island broadcast picked up where last week's episode had left off, with host Mark Walberg telling the single ladies they must leave the villa.
Mark explained the ladies may not see their men of interest until after the final bonfire -- or ever again, based on each man's ultimate decision of whether to stay in a committed relationship or not.
Evan assured Morgan Lolar that she's everything he ever wanted and he just had to handle things with Kaci.
But Morgan worried Evan would "crumble" seeing Kaci in person because he'd "feel guilty" for hurting her after spending so many years together.
Meanwhile, John wanted to hear Kady's side of the story and resolve their issues. Katheryn Golden wished she had more time with John and feared he'd end up "with what's comfortable and easy."
Katheryn hoped John would have the confidence to "go after somebody he deserves."
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John had unanswered questions and was just looking forward to what Kady had to say.
And Javen thanked Kayla Essex for being a good friend and making him a better man. Kayla realized there are good men out there, but Javen was ready to see his "baby girl" and spend the rest of his life with only one woman.
Karl then told Brittney Rose she's a beautiful person who matched him intellectually. Karl thanked her for being open and vulnerable, and he called their connection "wild."
However, Karl was expecting to have a difficult conversation with Nicole. He told Brittney he wished her "an amazing life" regardless of whether he ended up seeing her again, which appeared to let Brittney know he was dumping her.
"I still love Nicole and I'm not ready to give up on our relationship just yet," Karl told the cameras. "Regardless of what has gone on, I know Nicole and I still have to talk."
Karl told Brittney her exit might just be a "see you later," but she could tell he was distant.
Brittney then got angry and told Karl to "go home to [his] sh-tty relationship" and she'd return home and "try to figure out how to get over it."
Karl then admitted to Brittney that he wasn't going to shut the door on Nicole after a two-and-a-half year relationship.
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Brittney felt blindsided and "tricked" because he had allegedly been saying the whole time he never felt more connected to someone in his entire life.
"I'm glad I was able to help you strengthen your relationship. I just hope you didn't use me for that, because that's what it feels like," Brittney told Karl.
Karl called Brittney "a blessing" and said there's no way he could forget about her. Brittney was upset, thinking the connection she had developed was "false."
Mark then addressed the men and warned them they'd be meeting up with their significant others at the final bonfire meeting to share their experiences and feelings.
Evan told the cameras he knew exactly what needed to be said to Kaci but he wasn't looking forward to this confrontation.
Meanwhile, Shari admitted she had built "such a strong bond" with Justin Sturm but never expected that would happen.
Mark then approached the women in committed relationships and told the single men to say goodbye and exit the villa.
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Kaci said Valentin Osipov had really helped her through the process and he was "an amazing guy" whom she'd "always be close with."
"I love Javen but I maybe could see myself with Justin. Personality-wise, Justin and I are more alike, I feel," Shari told the cameras.
And Nicole told Tyler Sabino she didn't want their time on the island together to end. She said meeting him was a blessing and he opened her up to a brand new perspective on life and relationships.
"We've opened up emotionally and physically, and hopefully Tyler and I can stay in touch and develop a deeper connection and a deeper friendship, and who knows what that can lead to someday," Nicole told the cameras.
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Johnny told Kady he'd never hold her final decision against her but he hoped "the dust would settle" with John and they could eventually reconnect.
Kaci said half of her was done and wanted to kick Evan out of their apartment and start over, but the other half of her didn't know how to walk away from her best friend and the love of her life.
Kaci said her world was going to be "rocked" no matter what she decided.
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Kaci acknowledged she and Evan had "some major sh-t to talk about."
Heading into the bonfire, Karl planned to be honest and truthful with Nicole about how he had slept with Brittney. Karl noted, however, he only let his guard down and let loose once he saw that Nicole welcomed another man into her bed.
Nicole said Tyler taught her what a real relationship can be and they had a deep connection. She apparently realized what was going to make her happy in life, and so she needed to determine if that happiness could be found with Karl.
Kady and John went into the experience with the intent of testing each other's loyalty. John said he proved is loyalty but then took a different path with Katheryn once he saw video footage of Kady in bed with another man.
John knew it would be "really hard to recover" from their indiscretions on the island but he was just anticipating receiving closure.
Kady went into Temptation Island with an open heart and found Johnny possesses a leadership quality about him that John doesn't.
Kady, however, still loved John and was feeling guilty, sad and selfish. She felt like she had let John and herself down.
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The final bonfire of the season then commenced.
Nicole's heart and gut told her to break up with Karl, even though that was going to be extremely tough. But Karl still loved Nicole and wanted to make things work.
Karl and Nicole met first, and they each had an opportunity to speak his or her mind.
Karl acknowledged the process was supposed to make them stronger and give them clarity but he saw video footage of her being intimate with another man.
Karl said because of that, he did make a connection with Brittney and then broke the rules they had discussed. Karl apologized for that but said he hoped they could "figure something out."
Nicole then told Karl she was very confused about why they came to the island to begin with and she wanted to prove her loyalty to him but she really reflected on their relationship and was able to find out her purpose.
Nicole admitted their love was very "surface level" and Temptation Island allowed her to open up and drop her walls like never before.
"I feel like we haven't been able to build a deep, passionate connection with one another, and I feel that's because we're pushing some of our issues under the rug," Nicole told him.
"If we choose to move forward together, we'd have to be really strong and want to learn and grow for both of us to be happy."
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"There's something there, and I'm standing here saying, 'Yes, I still choose you,'" Karl told his girlfriend.
Nicole took a long pause, but then she said she wanted to "go home together and figure it out."
However, there was an awkward vibe between the individuals and they didn't even hold hands, hug or kiss.
Nicole admitted she had been holding herself back in her relationship with Karl in fear of being judged.
Nicole said she learned on the island it's okay to be social and vulnerable and she was just scared back home because Karl didn't really trust her. Nicole always worried how Karl would react to her behavior or opinions.
Nicole told Karl she wanted to be in a relationship but build a deeper connection together, but Karl was getting the feeling Nicole didn't want a boyfriend at this point to hold her down.
But Karl was clearly upset about Nicole's romance with another guy on the island. Karl said he loved Nicole but he could tell something was off and maybe she wasn't following her heart.
Nicole then admitted she had planned to break up with Karl at the bonfire meeting and it would probably be best to follow through with that initial decision.
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"I've been mentally preparing for time on my own... and I don't know if I'd be able to do it in the same capability if we are in a relationship," Nicole confessed.
Nicole then said she wanted to leave the island single and alone.
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Nicole cried and then hugged Karl goodbye.
"Watching Nicole walk away is painful. Nicole and I constantly talk about growth and building each other up in a relationship, so if this is what she needs -- to take this time for herself -- then that's what she should do," said Karl.
Karl insisted he had "no regrets," but Nicole was struggling to accept the fact she had walked away from someone who loves her.
"A lot of people here have made me realize I'm a strong woman and everything is going to be okay. I just didn't think it would be hard to break someone's heart that said they still loved me," Nicole cried to the cameras.
John then traveled to the bonfire meeting and was ready to confront Kady and defend himself about being a strong man and having the potential to be a great father.
Kady knew facing John was going to "crush" her, and she was already crying on the drive to the bonfire.
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Kady was given the opportunity to speak first, and she said it was good to see him and she missed him a lot. Kady called John her best friend and said she had taken advantage of their time apart to "self-reflect and dig deep."
"I've just realized that you're such an amazing man. I was always trying to change you and you are perfect just the way you are," Kady told her boyfriend.
Kady said their lives were intertwined and she loved their life together.
Kady, however, said the experience was "a necessary evil" and she didn't regret it because everything happens for a reason.
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John, trying to hold his tears back, said -- despite his issues -- he's a good man who has always loved, protected and supported Kady. He admitted it hurt to hear her question him as a man and future father.
"You see how I interact with your nieces and how I am around your friends' babies. My mission was to show you I'm a loyal guy, and I was until I saw you got in bed with that guy Johnny," John explained.
John said Kady's behavior "destroyed" him and it was "embarrassing," and so after he was the only man to not receive a video message, he decided to open up and connect with Katheryn instead of dealing with an aching heart.
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"I had a physical and emotional connection with her," John told Kady.
"We looked at wedding rings and talked about marriage, but we've taken a huge step back obviously. I do love you, but I want a woman that's going to build me up and not tear me down."
Kady told John he's amazing, sweet, kind and funny, but she couldn't see herself having children with him.
Kady admitted she couldn't envision herself having kids with John because she wanted a different kind of man leading her household. She insisted it had nothing to do with how John is with children.
Kady cried and said she had to "baby" John and "mother" him a little and "pull ambition" out of him.
"You make me not want to have kids," Kady revealed.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski