'The Bachelor' star Chris Soules picks Whitney Bischoff over Becca Tilley after being "torn" at the last minute

The Bachelor star Chris Soules selected Whitney Bischoff as his final bachelorette and proposed to her during Monday night's finale of the ABC reality dating show's nineteenth season.


Chris, a 33-year-old farmer from Arlington, IA, chose Whitney, a 29-year-old fertility nurse from Chicago, IL, at the end of his very difficult journey on the show. Chris was serious about finding a wife from the start, and when runner-up Becca Tilley, a 25-year-old chiropractic assistant from San Diego, CA, continued to voice hesitation about potentially raising a family and moving to Arlington, Chris decided Whitney was the better choice for him.

"I love you so much and I'm really scared right now, but I've put it all out there and I want to thank you for doing that too," Whitney told Chris at the final Rose Ceremony, which took place inside his family's barn.

After telling Whitney that crashing a wedding was one of the best moments of his life, he said: "There are so many things about you that I am so excited about, and it's not work for us. It's natural. We both want the same thing and it feels so right and it feels so perfect. And that's what I want for the rest of my life. I love you."

"Oh my God. I've been waiting so long to hear that! I won't forget this moment ever," Whitney told Chris.


"Everything about this moment feels right and I want the world to know that I love you Whitney Bischoff. Will you marry me?" Chris asked her.

"Absolutely!" Whitney exclaimed in tears.

They couple kissed and held each other tight. Chris picked her up in the air and they both just cried together.

"I'm the luckiest girl in the entire world!" Whitney noted.

"I'm the luckiest man in the world," Chris said.


Chris then handed Whitney his final rose, and she accepted. They exchanged "I love you's" and Whitney told her fiance it was the most amazing moment of her entire life. She then looked at her huge engagement ring and yelled, "Holy cow!"

The Bachelor's nineteenth-season finale began with Chris back in his hometown of Arlington. He was overwhelmed and had no clarity because both women were incredible. He liked how Whitney told him that she was in love with him already, but with Becca, it was a slow burn. Chris told his family he was falling in love with two girls at the same time.

In Dubuque, Whitney was nervous to meet Chris' family because the stakes were so high. She needed his family's approval in order for there to be a proposal in a few days.

Chris' father Gary thought Whitney was pretty and outgoing. He liked how she wasn't intimidated by their large clan, and Whitney made it clear she went on the show just for Chris. Whitney then gave a beautiful toast at the beginning of dinner, telling Chris' family she was madly in love with their son and brother. Everyone had tears in their eyes and seemed so taken with her.

Whitney told Chris' sisters that she felt comfortable about moving to Arlington because she wanted to be a mom more than anything and would do almost anything for love. Whitney felt the sisters would be pulling for her. She believed they had given her their stamp of approval.


The sisters then sat down with Chris and immediately noted how they hoped Whitney was "the one." She was unwavering in her confidence about them as a couple and Chris said there was no hesitation about her.

However, Chris' chemistry with Becca was undeniable. When asked what he loved about Becca, he couldn't articulate his words and became very defensive. The sisters thought it was a red flag because Whitney was all in and loved Chris in a real way. They hoped he wouldn't get hurt because Chris said he had an amazing connection with Becca. He thought she was extremely charming, athletic and grounded.

Chris' sisters reminded the Bachelor he went on the show to find a wife -- not a girlfriend.

Whitney then chatted with Chris' mom Linda for a bit. Whitney said she loved Linda's son with every ounce of her soul. She also couldn't wait to call a woman "mom" again. Linda was clearly touched by that and could tell Chris was Whitney's dream. As a mother, Linda said she couldn't ask for anything more than that. Whitney knew it would be an adjustment to move to Iowa but she was ready to "make lots of babies."

Afterward, Chris had a conversation with the guys in his life. He explained he had really serious feelings for Becca, but she hadn't expressed her love to him yet. She was "falling," and although that wasn't really enough, Chris was ready to take a chance on her and take a risk.


"I think Chris is really 50/50. I just thought he'd be in a place where he made up his mind and I don't think he has. I think that's highly unfortunate," Jason, Chris' brother-in-law, told the cameras.

Becca was up next to meet Chris' family. She thought she could potentially be meeting her future in-laws and she really wanted to make a great impression. Jaci was excited to see Becca with Chris because she had been more reserved and harder to get to know than some of the other girls.

Becca joked about how Arlington was in the middle of nowhere and her family would have to send her letters rather than text her because there's probably no service. She had everyone laughing.

Becca told Chris' sisters she wasn't "in love" yet and worried that her relationship might fade into the background because she wasn't at the point she should be at. Becca then revealed she'd try a long-distance relationship with Chris for a while. 

If Becca got to the point where she felt Chris was "it," or "the one," she'd be ready to go anywhere for him. She wanted to be with him, however, and just see where things could go. Chris' sister Lori was scared Becca wasn't "as into" Chris as Whitney had proved herself to be.


Chris' sisters then asked Chris if he could build his relationship with Becca up to what he already had with Whitney. Chris said how he felt was more important than what Becca was saying. Chris was advised to push Becca a little more because he needed confidence by the end of this process. He needed to know if she loved him. The sisters agreed he needed answers because Becca absolutely had to open up and be vulnerable.

Linda asked Becca what she'd do if she had to either commit to Chris fully in two days or end things entirely. Becca admitted she'd be miserable if she couldn't see Chris again, and Linda explained that's what love is. Becca was also more concerned about Chris' feelings and him getting hurt than she was about herself, which Linda also called love.  

"It's really up to you I think. It's up to you. I feel that. It's up to you," Linda told Becca, telling her to take chances regardless of whether or not they'd work out.

Linda told the cameras that Becca cared for Chris more than she knew and probably didn't recognize the fact she was already in love.

"Hopefully she will" recognize it, said Linda.

Becca absolutely wasn't ready to say "yes" to a proposal. She was still fairly closed off and knew a long-distance relationship would be extremely tough to deal with.


"The idea of being without Chris forever is scary for me. But there are a lot of decisions that have to be made in the next couple days and we need to have a talk," Becca said in a confessional.

The sisters determined Chris needed more time with Becca and vice versa, but they just didn't have it at this point. Becca wasn't sure if she was in love with Chris nor did she know if she'd want to move to Iowa.

"I think Whitney's the sure thing, but I think Becca is who Chris wants. I don't know how it will go if he picks her. I think he will take the risky path," Gary told the cameras.

That night, Chris and Becca got to spend some alone time together, and Chris had a lot of questions to ask.

"I'm falling in love with you, but I just hate the fact I'm not there yet," Becca told Chris.

He asked if she could see herself being a part of his life in the future. He needed to know if she was afraid or could even envision being with him long-term. Becca said she couldn't put a timeline on her feelings or when she'd be ready to move and pick up her life for him. Becca just couldn't give Chris a clear-cut answer, but she certainly wanted to be with him and continue dating him.


Chris just wished he could understand where her mind and heart were. He was scared and didn't know how to handle her uncertainty. Becca wanted to get married and have kids but she couldn't tell Chris when she wanted those things.

Chris asked Becca why she didn't feel she was in love with him, and she simply said, "I don't know, and I want so badly to answer that question."

"I don't feel like I know what you want and that's the hard part," Chris said.

"All I know is that I want you, and that's the one thing I'm sure about... That's the one thing I know," Becca noted.

Chris needed to hear Becca say she'd do anything and everything in her power to make it work. Becca thought that once she fell in love, the idea of moving and being with him would make more sense and become more realistic.

Chris admitted he was pushing Becca. He soon found out Becca's biggest worry was getting to Arlington and having nothing to do career-wise or just not being happy. Chris understood that she didn't want a life that revolved entirely around him.


Chris told Becca he'd have her back no matter what and they'd figure things out together. The answers Chris got weren't what he wanted, but he at least knew she wanted him, and he wanted the same thing -- which felt "awesome." Chris, however, saw so much potential in what he had with Whitney as well.

Chris got extremely emotional. He woke up exhausted, trying to process everything that happened.

That day, Chris and Whitney spent some alone time on the Arlington farm. The couple harvested corn together with his dad, and Whitney loved seeing him "in his happy place." She felt like a genuine part of his life and could see it being her future for a "long, long, long time."

Chris revealed to Whitney he owned about 800 acres of farm land and then he brought her to his house. He called it a "blank slate," saying it needed a woman's touch. Whitney said it "felt 100% right" to be in his home, which he noted was "made for a family." She felt safe, peace and comfort. She told Chris she was still scared out of her mind, but he was all worth it.

"After today, there's butterflies and excitement and it's energizing to be around him and spend the day with him. But to be honest, I hope this continues to go well and I hope Chris at the end of the day looks at this and says, 'I have no questions. This is right. Nothing can change this,'" Whitney said in a confessional.

That night, Chris had confirmation in regards to how he felt about Whitney. He said things felt right with her, and she liked the idea of being domestic and living a simple life.


Whitney then asked Chris to put everything out on the table, and he asked why she was so certain about them being perfect for each other. Whitney explained that Chris made her feel comfortable and then their connection got deeper. She just felt things rather than needing to verbalize them all the time, and she could finish his sentences. 

Chris said he reciprocated her feelings. He was excited about her and what they had. Whitney felt love when she looked into Chris' eyes but she started getting realistic about possibly being dumped. She handed her heart to Chris and was terrified to get it broken.

Chris' decision came down to two women who were both perfect" to him. He still didn't have clarity and it was the toughest decision he's made in his entire life. He confessed he was "torn" and didn't know what to do. He was unsure about whether to even look at engagement rings, but he said every man has doubts before proposing -- even if it's just in the form of questioning whether that woman is whom he should be with for the rest of his life.

"I'm sitting here looking at rings and I'm just as confused as ever," Chris said.

As Whitney got dressed, she just hoped Chris was certain in his decision. She loved him, and Becca was still only "falling." Sadly enough, Chris was mainly worried about making a mistake. He stood in the barn where he raised his first kid and used to play. Chris was still going through the positives and negatives of spending his life with each woman.

"It's a very real option I may not propose to anyone today because I am so torn at this moment," Chris told the cameras.


Chris was grateful to be in his position but was devastated about having to hurt one of his Final 2 bachelorettes. He had to break up with someone he was crazy about and it was a decision he didn't even want to make. He never realized how hard the moment was going to be and he just wished he had some sign, telling him what to do.

Becca arrived in the barn first.

"I love the way I feel when I'm with Becca... She makes me happy. We've come this far together because I could see myself marrying her. I'm hoping I'm making the right call, but seeing her, I'm not sure what I'm going to do," Chris said in a confessional.

Chris welcomed Becca to his home and she called it beautiful. He then began his speech, telling Becca she gave him a level of comfort he never really felt before and he never had doubts about them as a couple. Chris said he could see her being his wife but she's not really ready.

"I have to just go with my heart and my gut, and I don't think it's fair for either of us to take that leap at this point... You are here because I felt it and I wanted it to happen, and I'm so thankful to have been able to meet your family and to have been with you... You're going to make someone really incredibly happy, and I don't think I'm the guy who's going to be able to give you want you need," Chris told Becca.

Becca respected Chris for being so honest with her and for being the man he is. She told him he'll make an incredible husband. They hugged and then he walked her out. Chris began to cry, but Becca stayed strong. He said there were so many things he saw in her that he wanted.


"I think I'm in a state of shock or something. I don't know. I don't know. It doesn't feel good -- at all. It's such a final moment, I can't process it right now. Part of me thinks Chris is in love with me and I was falling in love with him. I could've seen him being someone I could be with and that I could marry. It just wasn't there yet," Becca said following her ouster.

"I do want to be in love and I'm just wondering if it's ever going to happen. If it can't happen with someone like that, who's it going to happen with? I hope I don't wake up and have this moment, thinking I've been in love with him this whole time but I just didn't say it."

On Whitney's way to the barn, she said her nerves were off the charts. She repeated "holy cow," realizing she was either going to leave heartbroken or engaged. She was sure she wanted Chris to put a ring on her finger. It was going to be one of the happiest -- or saddest -- moments of her life.

Whitney walked up to Chris and told him that he's never disappointed her and the journey has meant so much to her. He then explained his love and why she was the right fit for his life. After he popped the question, the couple agreed everything was perfect and then they watched the sun go down together.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski