The Bachelor star Brad Womack eliminated three bachelorettes and narrowed his love search to 11 women during last night's broadcast of the ABC reality dating series' fifteenth season.

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Stacey Queripel, a 26-year-old bartender from Boston, MA; Lindsay Hill, a 25-year-old first grade teacher from Plano, TX; and Meghan Merritt, a 30-year-old fashion marketer from New York, NY, were eliminated during the fourth episode's Rose Ceremony.

"I'm totally bummed out. I came across the country hoping to meet my Prince Charming and get married, but clearly Brad didn't feel anything on his end. It's a blow to the ego. Let's be serious. Maybe I'm not as cool as I think. Clearly, I probably have some of my own issues -- maybe my walls are too high -- but I think Brad really missed out on a great girl," Meghan said following her ouster.

The Bachelor's fourth fifteenth-season episode began with The Bachelor host Chris Harrison telling the remaining 14 bachelorettes there would be two one-on-one dates and one group date over the course of the next week. There would be a rose up for grabs during each date -- and if the bachelorettes on the one-on-one dates failed to receive a rose, they would be ousted immediately.

Chantal O'Brien, a 28-year-old executive assistant from Seattle, WA, then was told she'd be accompanying Brad on the week's first one-on-one date.

But before Chantal was picked up for her special day, Michelle Money, a 30-year-old hairstylist from Salt Lake City, UT, complained how she woke up with a black eye but had no idea of how it happened. She suggested she might have punched herself in the face during her night's sleep because of the stress of the competition, but Ashley Spivey, a 26-year-old nanny from New York, NY, wished she got in another way.

"I wish I was the one that gave Michelle her black eye. I want to rip her head off," Ashley S. said.

Brad then took Chantal O. to their date by flying in a helicopter and then taking a boat out in the ocean. Brad then revealed the two of them would be walking underwater in special gear to observe the marine life. Chantal O. said the depths of the ocean was one of her greatest fears, but she nervously accepted the challenge and walked by Brad's side.

After their date in the ocean, Chantal O. and Brad shared conversations in a romantic setting on the beach. The couple talked as they saw "good luck" rain coming and decided to move to the sheltered bed where they shared many kisses and furthered their apparent connection.

"You've made today seem very real to me, like something that could happen in real life, and you make me feel like myself. You make me so comfortable and I want to continue this badly with you. I really do. Chantal, would you accept this rose?" Brad asked her.

Chantal O. accepted the rose and couldn't be happier to spend time with Brad.

"I feel truly blessed to have gotten a rose today and to feel like this man that I have feelings for is feeling something for me. I went into tonight thinking tonight is a 'make or break it' night and I feel like it turned out to be a 'make it' night... I want Brad to fall in love with me. That's what I want," Chantal O said.

Brad said the way he feels about Chantal O. made him want to take her hand and run away, labeling his feelings for her as "freaking crazy."

Back at the mansion, the other women learned who would share the group date with Brad.

Ashley S., Stacey, Lindsay, Britt Billmaier, a 25-year-old food writer from Woodinville, WA; Meghan, Alli Travis, a 24-year-old apparel merchant from Columbus, OH; Lisa Morrisey, a 24-year-old marketing coordinator from Ottawa, KS; Ashley Hebert, a 26-year-old dentist from Philadelphia, PA; and Jackie Gordon, a 27-year-old artist from New York, NY, accompanied Brad on the week's group date.

The next morning, the nine bachelorettes accompanying Brad on the group date learned they would be meeting with Celebrity Rehab host Dr. Drew for the radio broadcast Loveline. Brad wanted to get the women to open up and talk about their feelings and experiences, while he determined who was most compatible and honest with him.

During the Loveline radio show, Dr. Drew asked Brad if he ever cheated on a woman, and the Bachelor insisted he had never done such a thing, even as a teenager. But then Dr. Drew addressed the bachelorettes and asked the same question, and Stacey was the only woman to confess she had a cheating history. 

"I was in college, I was being drunk and stupid... when you're in college and you're in a relationship, it's volatile," Stacey said.

But Brad said he respected her honesty and appreciated how the women told him things about themselves he wouldn't normally learn on a regular date. Britt also told Brad how she is a very shy person and has yet to feel like she has had enough time with Brad for them to establish a connection.
 
"I get so concerned about composing this perfect 10 minutes that I feel as though you have no idea about who I really am. And I think we're similar in that we try to be very composed a lot and I just want the chance to get to know you for real. I am excited to do that... I get nervous around you," Britt told Brad.

"I love hearing that. I feel the same exact way. Give me the chance to make some time with you. Please give me a chance to do that, because I feel the same way about you," Brad replied.

Later that night after Loveline, Brad and the bachelorettes enjoyed a party surrounding a hot tub where they all relaxed and reflected on what they previously learned about each other. Then it came time for the women to try to steal some private time with Brad, and that came with many interruptions and frustration for a few of the bachelorettes.

"I think fear and frustration are like my top two emotions right now. Girls are going after him so it's getting intense... Why is this tough for me and not anyone else?" Ashley H. said.

Ashley grew increasingly more upset and anxious to have one-on-one time with Brad, while observing other women around her snag some intimate time with him. But Brad on the other hand, was loving the spirit of the competition.

"My good old buddy Dr. Drew opened up a can of worms here. He told the women to be engaging -- they're doing it! Each and every one of them is trying to talk to me tonight. I love it!" Brad said.

Meanwhile, back at the mansion Michelle discovered she would be going on the next one-on-one date with Brad.
 
During the group date, Brad and Britt shared a deep conversation with each other and Britt admitted she had "a crush" on him. They then madeout for a lengthy time only to be interrupted by Ashley H. who was brewing with jealousy.

Ashley H. told Brad how difficult the experience was getting for her, as seeing him with so many other women was sparking so many emotions and was beginning to force her to retract and close herself off from him. Brad tried to convince her to stay in it just for him and to forget the surroundings, but she remained perturbed.

Brad then said he wanted to give the next rose to Ashley H. to reassure her that he cares for her and truly likes her.

"No chance in hell I'm going to give up on Ashley. No chance in hell!" Brad said.

But once Brad was ready to hand her the rose in the hot tub, Ashley H. muttered some annoying comments under her breath, influencing Brad to change his course of action and select Britt for the rose instead.

"What's so awkward? I'll wait to hear it... What's on your mind?... Alright I'm put on the spot. Okay, yeah. I'm going to change my plan a little bit here," Brad explained.

Brad then pulled Britt away and offered her the next rose.

"You took the chance to tell me that you were intimidated to talk to me, but you still do it. We have great kisses and I truly believe that you're for me. For the love of God please, Britt will you accept this rose?" Brad asked her.

Britt was thrilled to accept the rose.

"I never in a million years expected that I would get the rose tonight. I'll be safe at the next Rose Ceremony and I get a little reminder that he's into me. It's exciting!" Britt said.

Meanwhile, Ashley H. realized her negative attitude may have affected her relationship with Brad, and that she may not have received the rose because of it.

"I'm really frustrated and upset that Britt got the rose. I think I might have ruined what Brad and I had. I think I did," she said.

The next day, Brad picked up Michelle for their one-on-one date, but decided -- much to Michelle's frustration -- he had to settle things with Ashley H. first. They discussed what happened the previous night and apparently ended back on good terms. Brad then took Michelle via helicopter to the location of the date.

Following the flight, Michelle learned she and Brad would be rappelling down the side of a skyscraper, but she freaked out and admitted she had a terrible fear of heights. Michelle began to cry and wanted to back out of the date, even though she wanted to prove to Brad she would do anything for him.

"This is a really big fear of mine. I don't know if I can get through this. Truly I don't. Have you looked down yet? Don't... Are we crazy? This is crazy. I'm freaking out. There's no way," Michelle repeated.

Although Michelle was apparently terrified, she wasn't the only one. Brad confessed it was a huge fear of his own, but that he willingly wanted to face it side-by-side with Michelle.

The two made the plunge and shared a romantic kiss halfway down the building.

"I'm so proud of you! Look at you! You're a pro!" Brad exclaimed while supporting Michelle during their descent.

After they rappelled down the building, the couple enjoyed some time in a pool and drank wine while discussing Michelle's daughter. They later continued their conversation on a couch, and Michelle admitted that she found no other girl to be a fit for Brad in any way. Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Chantal O. and Stacey talked about how Michelle was weird and scary.

But Brad was obviously taken with Michelle despite how some of the bachelorettes felt about her, and showed his affection by offering her the next rose.

"This is an easy one. You are an amazing and absolutely incredible woman. So Michelle, please, please, will you accept this rose?" Brad asked her.

"All this really does, is leave me wanting more. I can't wait until I see him again and I can't wait until the time we have to just spend with us alone, and I think it's definitely time for all the girls to go home. He is mine," Michelle said after accepting the rose.

The next day, Brad met with his psychiatrist and they discussed his experience so far on The Bachelor. They talked about how Brad needs to stop focusing on the expectations of what the women want from him and feel he is supposed to do during their dates to please the bachelorettes. Instead, Brad was told to focus on what was actually in front of him and establish those intimate connections only if he sincerely felt the chemistry. 

That night, the cocktail party preceding the Rose Ceremony took place, so each of the bachelorettes would have one last chance to have some one-on-one time with Brad. Shawntel Newton, a 25-year-old funeral director from Chico, CA, charmed Brad with her sense of humor while reliving their action movie scenes together, and Meghan attempted to get to know Brad a little better.

But emotions intensified when Brad asked Emily Maynard, a 24-year-old children's hospital event planner from Charlotte, NC, to accompany him into another room in front of many of the bachelorettes. He had a special basket for Emily filled with a blanket and wine so they could recreate their one-on-one date at the winery. Brad wanted Emily to know he did not forget about her and was looking forward to seeing her all week.

The girls started joking that Brad had a ring in the basket for Emily and that there was no point for them to even compete for him if he already "fell in love" with the southern sweetheart. Chantal O. took their connection the worst and broke down in tears, while Meghan stated there should only be one rose for Emily and everyone else should just be sent home.

The Bachelor's fourth Rose Ceremony then commenced.

"Hello ladies. I know this has been difficult on most of you, if not all of you, and I truly thank each and every one of you for just simply being patient with me. I want you to know I'm trying to make this as easy as possible for each of you to go through that with me, because I want to propose to one of you at the end of this," Brad told the bachelorettes before handing out the first rose.

Besides Chantal O., Britt and Michelle, Brad gave roses to Ashley S, Alli, Emily, Shawntel, Lisa, Jackie, Marissa, a 26-year-old sports publicist from Kissimmee, FL; and finally Ashley H.

"It was a big deal for me to put myself out there and come here, and I absolutely came here hoping to find love. For me, it just wasn't in the cards. I want to live a happy life obviously. I want to be in love with somebody, but I don't know if I'm going to find the right guy. Hopefully soon. I'm sick of dating," Stacey said following her elimination.

"It's disappointing that I'm going home tonight, but I just wasn't the girl for Brad. Rejection is always hard, but I think that I was true to myself and I think my Dad is going to be so proud of me for being the daughter that he and my Mom raised me to be," Lindsay said.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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