'The Bachelor' recap: Elyse Dehlbom quits on Colton Underwood as Cassie Randolph and Heather Martin get 1-on-1 dates

The Bachelor star Colton Underwood watched Elyse Dehlbom quit the show during Monday night's Season 23 episode on ABC.


Elyse chose to leave The Bachelor because she didn't feel she had enough time to fall in love with Colton and couldn't envision herself accepting a marriage proposal from him within a matter of weeks.

"Walking away from someone I care about, I think I just made a really big, stupid mistake. I convinced myself that out of 30 women, I wouldn't have been enough. But he wanted this to work, and I really, really regret doing this," Elyse said in her final words.

"How f-cking stupid am I?! I'm so pissed off at myself. I am disgusted with myself and heartbroken."

The Bachelor broadcast began with Colton and his 13 remaining bachelorettes traveling to Thailand for a week of romantic and exotic dates.


The ladies still in the running for Colton's heart at this point were Elyse, Onyeka Ehie, Nicole Lopez-Alvar, Heather Martin, Tayshia Adams, Caelynn Miller-Keyes, Kirpa Sudick, Demi Burnett, Sydney Lotuaco, Hannah Godwin, Katie Morton, Hannah Brown, and Cassie Randolph.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' SEASON 23: MEET ALL OF COLTON'S BACHELORETTES! (PHOTO GALLERY)

Heather and Colton have a one-on-one date

Heather accompanied Colton on the week's first one-on-one date, and the couple headed to a floating city via a traditional Thai boat.

Heather apparently came close to kissing guys multiple times before, but when she knew deep down in her heart the men she had been in relationships with weren't for her, she decided to wait for the right guy to come along to share that special moment with.

Because Colton was kind, sweet and understanding, Heather was anticipating her first kiss was going to be with Colton.


Meanwhile, Elyse was struggling with the process because she really cared for Colton but feared she wouldn't receive a one-on-one date with the Bachelor in Thailand, the most romantic place she's ever traveled to in her life.

Elyse was beginning to question whether Colton reciprocated her strong feelings because weeks had passed since their first and only one-on-one date together.

RELATED LINK: 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HEATHER MARTIN, PLUS PHOTO GALLERY

If her name was going to be on a group-date card, Elyse didn't know whether that meant Colton felt solid about their connection and so he didn't need more one-on-one time with her -- or he simply wasn't that interested in her.

Elyse then discovered she would be stuck on a group date with the following women: Demi, Caelynn, Hannah B., Sydney, Tayshia, Kirpa, Onyeka, Hannah G., and Nicole.


Cassie gushed about how it was "the best feeling in the entire world" to be picked for a one-on-one date with Colton, but Elyse was pissed and vented to the cameras, "This sucks."

Back on Colton's date, he told Heather that she had surpassed all of his expectations for the date that day.

Over dinner, Heather then opened up about a past relationship in which the man was everything she wanted on paper. She said he was kind, driven and had all the qualities she wanted in a partner. However, after several dates, she "didn't feel it with him."

Heather's friends pushed her to kiss the guy -- whom she dated for eight months -- but she didn't want to.

Colton said he was never uncomfortable with the fact Heather had never kissed a guy but he was concerned about "that moment" because he hoped they were on the same page and wanted to give their relationship a fair shot.


RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)

"I don't want you to think I'm waiting for some magical moment and I'm only going to kiss my husband. I would never want you to think that because that's just not the case at all. And so, I want to move forward with you and that's something I want as well. I am looking forward to the future," Heather told Colton.

Colton then offered Heather a rose because he respected her and appreciated how seriously she was taking their first experiences together.

It was clear Colton was ready to take their relationship to the next level, and then Heather admitted to the cameras she would be bummed out if she didn't receive her first kiss that night.

Heather finally gets kissed

Colton and Heather walked along a beach after dinner and things were a little awkward between them because Colton seemed nervous to make a move. However, fireworks started exploding in the sky above them, and then Colton grabbed Heather's face for her first kiss ever.


Heather gushed about how it "felt so good" and was "so natural." Colton was also "on a high," as he said kissing Heather was magical and a moment he did not take lightly.

Once Heather returned from her date and gushed about how wonderful her night was, Elyse decided to pay Colton a visit to his hotel room. She was all dolled up in a white, sexy dress with her hair curled.

Elyse quits and leaves Colton

The girls noted Elyse was wearing her "statement dress," but she was apparently feeling "gutted" inside and expected to have a difficult conversation with The Bachelor star.

Elyse doubted herself, Colton and their relationship. While they had a great connection and their one-on-one date was one of the best dates of her life, she wanted to maintain that joy and have a man in her life who was willing to work as hard on their relationship as she was.

RELATED LINK: 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ELYSE DEHLBOM, PLUS PHOTO GALLERY

Once Elyse arrived at Colton's place, he was shocked to see her. She explained how she had struggled in Singapore because she wanted to learn more things about him but just didn't have the time to get to know him better.


"I want the time and attention a relationship deserves," Elyse told Colton.

"I feel like when I'm with you, we give each other that," Colton said, adding that she made him excited and he was solely focused on their connection when they were together.

Elyse wanted the opportunity to be "stupidly happy," and insisted her feelings were not coming from a place of jealousy or insecurity stemming from Colton's relationships with the other women.

Elyse was hoping Colton would say he had stronger and better connections with the other ladies and they could be friends, but Colton told her that it "killed" him to hear that because it wasn't the case.

"That's not me. I don't give up on relationships," Colton noted, "especially ones I'm genuinely excited for."

"You're breaking my heart. I can't -- like literally can't accept a proposal after a few months of sharing your time and attention with other people. I can't do it," Elyse told the Bachelor.


Elyse therefore decided to quit the competition, saying Colton wanted something she couldn't guarantee or promise him.

Elyse also explained the other women frequently talked about how they were falling in love with Colton but the process just wasn't working for her in the same way.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)

Elyse reiterated in tears how she couldn't accept a marriage proposal from Colton in a few weeks, and then he walked her out.

Colton put his head into his hands afterward and vented about how much it hurt to have a woman give up on him and their relationship. It wasn't the first time this has happened to Colton, and Elyse's exit made one of Colton's fears surface.

"That's my worst nightmare, is getting to the end of this and not being loved back -- not being enough. What happened tonight, it might happen when I get down on one knee, and that's absolutely terrifying," Colton said in a confessional.

Colton goes on a group date

The next day, Colton was still grappling with the fear he might get hurt at the end of this day, but he decided to put on a good face and enjoy his group date with the women.

Colton and the ladies hiked through a jungle and learned survival skills, such as how to retrieve water and eat protein from bugs and worms.

Hannah B. was in her element, while Tayshia ended up sneaking Colton away for a sexy kiss that Nicole and Kate unfortunately saw from a distance.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)

The girls were required to separate themselves into three groups and search for food and water in the jungle, but Hannah B., Demi and Hannah G. ended up finding a restaurant and bringing Colton a cheeseburger and fries.

Although the three girls failed their task, Colton seemed to appreciate the cheeseburger and laugh off the girls' approach to the group date.


At the afterparty, all of the girls were desperate for more time with Colton. Nicole even threatened to go home if she didn't receive some personal, intimate time with the Bachelor.

Tayshia and Colton kissed alone on the beach, and then Hannah B. confessed to Colton that she was falling in love with him. Hannah B. became the first woman of the season to admit such feelings for The Bachelor star.

Onyeka then brought something that concerned her to Colton's attention. Elyse had informed Onyeka before she left that Nicole went on The Bachelor, looking for an opportunity to leave Miami, FL. Onyeka expressed how she had been very upset to hear that.

Colton wanted to make sure the women on the show were truly there for him, and so he confronted Nicole about Onyeka's accusations. Colton confessed he was "devastated" to hear that, but Nicole insisted she applied for The Bachelor to find love.

"It just kills me if you are going to take that and believe it," Nicole told Colton in tears.

RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO'S STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT?! (PHOTOS)


Meanwhile, Tayshia told Onyeka and some of the other girls that she was present for that conversation and Nicole mentioned how one should take advantage of opportunities that could change your life -- without mentioning anything about wanting to leave Miami.

Nicole cried to Onyeka about how she was on the show for the right reasons and it really hurt her that Onyeka was spreading rumors.

Nicole was upset she had to defend her character because she had been nothing but honest and real the entire time, and Tayshia noted it was unfortunate Nicole had to deal with that.

"Colton definitely appreciated me being open and honest with him, and I can't feel for someone who cries literally every single day. Nicole cries every single day. I am so unfazed by her tears and I literally cannot deal [with them]," Onyeka told the cameras.

Colton offered Hannah B. the group-date rose, and she noted she had come a long way in this journey.

But Nicole was hoping Colton would give her another chance and see past the rumors.

Cassie has a one-on-one date with Colton

The next day, Colton embarked on a one-on-one date with Cassie, who had been waiting a long time to spend some alone time with him.

The couple spent the day on a boat, and Colton said their chemistry was very natural and he felt comfortable around her.

RELATED LINK: 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CASSIE RANDOLPH, PLUS PHOTO GALLERY

"It's just so easy to be with her," Colton told the cameras. "I am definitely smitten with Cassie."

Cassie also had butterflies in her stomach when in Colton's presence. She thought he was "hot" and was always left with wanting more after their moments alone together.

Colton and Cassie then enjoyed their own private island in the middle of the ocean. The pair couldn't stop kissing once their feet touched the sand, and it was clear Colton was crazy about her.


Even the girls back at their villa discussed how it was obvious Colton and Cassie connected with each other. For example, Sydney pointed out how Colton often pulled Cassie aside on group dates, and Heather told Caelynn she could "tangibly" see Colton's attraction to Cassie.

Back on Colton's date, he and Cassie kissed and hugged in the ocean. Colton said the couple "fit well together" and he was "insanely attracted" to her. Cassie was also surprised by how well the day was going.

That night, Colton told Cassie that she was very special and he knew she was special upon first meeting her.

Cassie was a little concerned about not being a virgin given the community she's a part of back at home. She worried about receiving judgment from others and being forced to have some tough conversations.

After dinner, Cassie and Colton cuddled in his bed, and the couple agreed they felt like they had known each other for so long.

RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHO'S STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? (PHOTOS)


"I just want you to know I'm crazy about you," Colton told Cassie.

"He definitely showed me that he cares a lot about me. Definitely. Ugh, I don't want to go back to reality," Cassie said.

Colton called Cassie "amazing" and told the cameras he was extremely excited about their relationship and moving forward together.

Colton continued to build connections with the ladies at the subsequent cocktail party, including Tayshia, who released a lantern into the sky and made Colton feel special during their romantic moment together.

Onyeka and Nicole argue

Nicole attempted to patch her relationship with Colton up by explaining how she loves Miami and never said the comment Onyeka accused her of saying. Colton could see Nicole had a big heart, but then she decided to trash Onyeka.

Nicole said Onyeka had been bullying her since the start of the show.


"She spread a rumor that I am emotionally unstable, she has belittled me and made me feel like I am not worthy of your love, and I just need to tell you this -- because although she says she is here to protect you -- I don't see her as someone you could ever have a future with because of the way she treats me," Nicole told Colton.

Nicole told Colton that he was worth fighting for and it was important for him to know the truth.

RELATED LINK: 'MARRIAGE BOOT CAMP' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)

Colton was trying to process his feelings, and he told Onyeka that although she always made him smile, he was very worried about Nicole's allegations. Onyeka insisted she was not a bully and would never call someone emotionally unstable.

"She's not a good person. I don't trust her intentions and I know you can do so much better... I have genuine intentions and really hope that you can see that," Onyeka told Colton.

Onyeka and Nicole fought at the cocktail party and continued to bicker, which interrupted Colton's time with Katie. He could hear them yelling at each other, and it really stressed him out.


Colton attempted to work through things with the girls, but when the screaming match continued, he walked away and needed a minute alone. Both Onyeka and Nicole ran after him at separate times, but he didn't want to be near either of them.

"I'm over it. I'm over it," Colton noted.

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski