The Bachelorette star Tayshia Adams told Zac Clark she loved him during their Fantasy Suite date before Brendan Morais self-eliminated and then Ben Smith came back into the picture during the Season 16 episode that aired Monday night on ABC.
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Tayshia was entering the overnight Fantasy Suite date portion of her journey to find love.
Her Final 3 bachelors were Brendan, a 30-year-old commercial roofer from Milford, MA; Ivan Hall, a 28-year-old aeronautical engineer from Dallas, TX; and Zac, a 36-year-old addiction specialist from Haddonfield, NJ.
The guys were beginning to feel awkward and uncomfortable around each other as Tayshia sat down for a chat with former The Bachelorette star JoJo Fletcher, who assured Tayshia she would be fine as long as she follows her heart and asks the right questions during the overnight dates.
JoJo, for example, advised Tayshia to ask each man whether he'd be willing to move to Orange County, CA, or she'd have to pick up and move for his job as well as children, family and more.
Tayshia said there were many positives with Zac, Brendan and Ivan but she also had hesitations about each one.
Ivan then accompanied Tayshia on the first overnight Fantasy Suite date of the season.
"We all know Ivan is a good dude. I would let my sister date him, but I don't know how I'd feel about my girlfriend dating him," Zac joked to Brendan.
Brendan was a little upset he didn't have the first Fantasy Suite with Tayshia, and he spoke about how his next engagement was going to be his last one and it needed to last forever.
Hearing the other guys talk, Zac told the cameras he seemed to be in a different spot with Tayshia. Zac said he was head over heels for Tayshia and trusted her completely and was totally ready for a future with her.
For Ivan and Tayshia's date, the pair each sat in an ice bath and were asked to try to break the world record of longest coldest kiss.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOWTayshia said she could lean on Ivan and he had always been "real and vulnerable" with her.
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Ivan was visibly shaking in the cold tub, but Tayshia appeared to be a rock and comforted Ivan as they kissed. The pair was in it together, and they ended up breaking the five minute and 16-second record with an impressive time of six minutes and 35 seconds.
"I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. I can't really imagine anybody really being close to the connection that I have with Tayshia at this point," Ivan gushed.
That evening, Ivan and Tayshia enjoyed a romantic dinner, and Ivan opened up to The Bachelorette star about how he was feeling.
"The word 'love' just means so much to me. It's something I don't take lightly whatsoever, so I don't want to just throw it out there. I love hard and I'll love them for the rest of their life or do anything for that person," Ivan told Tayshia.
"It's hard for me to show my feelings... [I know I've said], 'I like you,' or, 'I really like you,' and whatever else. But I probably started falling in love with you a couple weeks ago, honestly. And it's more than that at this point."
Ivan told Tayshia he could see their love story working out and he could stare into her eyes all day.
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Tayshia confirmed that she was "falling for" Ivan as well, and Tayshia noted they had a breakthrough in that moment that would allow for them to take their relationship to the next level.
Tayshia and Ivan had a mobile home set up for them at The Bachelorette resort, and Ivan noted his relationship had become "really serious" and it felt like he and Tayshia were "made for each other" at this point.
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Tayshia said she could see herself with Ivan at the end of the show and they could definitely "take over the world" together.
Tayshia gushed about how Ivan understood her and provided comfort.
"He's the perfect guy. He is genuine, sincere, honest, kind, driven, ambitious -- he's everything. Gosh, he's literally everything," Tayshia told the cameras, before kicking them out of her RV.
The next morning, Ivan said he and Tayshia stayed up all night talking about things. Ivan said he had "no problem proposing to Tayshia," and he was actually ready to do it already.
Tayshia appreciated how she and Ivan could have both silly and serious conversations, including religion and their future goals and plans. Tayshia said she could envision herself having "a really beautiful life" with Ivan.
Once Brendan returned to the other guys, Brendan admitted it was tough to hear about the wonderful time Ivan and Tayshia had together. Brendan and Ivan were also uncomfortable about the idea of Zac's Date Card saying, "Let's explore each other."
Tayshia and Zac then created some body art by rolling around in their bathing suits in paint on a giant canvas. The couple basically used the activity as an excuse to make out and roll around the canvas together.
Tayshia said she probably wouldn't have enjoyed this date with anyone else because Zac is a "big dork" who makes her laugh and knows how to have a good time.
"On top of that, Zac is extremely attractive and tall and confident in who he is. I don't know what I mean by him having a little bit of swag, but Zac has it, and I noticed it since Night 1," Tayshia said.
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Zac planned to tell Tayshia that he wanted her to be his wife at the end of all this. Zac said Tayshia needed to see that softer side of him if she was going to be intimate with him that evening.
Zac said he never felt this strongly, this quickly, this easily for a woman before. Zac suggested Tayshia essentially electrocuted him and turned him on, and he wanted her to know exactly how he was feeling.
"Now might be the time to stop being a jackass and actually tell the girl how you feel," Zac noted.
Tayshia then asked Zac why his mother had said he didn't want children, and Zac admitted he had been lying to himself for a while about wanting to just be "the cool uncle" with no kids.
Zac said the idea of being single was the easy way out because his walls were up and he was afraid of getting hurt again. Zac confirmed for Tayshia he wants to be a father and would be a great one, adding, "I deserve all those things."
Tayshia thought Zac looked stressed, but he just wanted to open up like never before.
"I made a promise to myself when I came here to be honest and be authentic... I've told you several times about this light that you've turned on and I'm happy and I'm feeling something very strong," Zac began.
"And I, Tayshia, I think -- I don't think, I know -- that I love you. I love your smile, your strength and how you treat other people. I just love the human being that you are."
Tayshia appeared to blush and giggle, and then she added, "I don't know, it's just wild because I love you too! I have known that I love you though, that's the thing! I've never felt this way before!"
"I don't think I have [either]," Zac said.
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Tayshia admitted she was trying to think things through and find things that were wrong with Zac or their relationship, but Zac suggested maybe nothing was wrong at all.
"I'm just so happy!" Tayshia gushed, before asking Zac to say "I love you" again.
Tayshia could tell Zac was intentional and organic with his words, and then the pair took their date to the Fantasy Suite. Zac questioned how he was even worthy of this night with Tayshia, and Tayshia said the night felt "like a dream."
Tayshia wanted the validation that her heart was right and that Zac was right for her.
"Zac loves me, and I love Zac!" Tayshia exclaimed.
The next morning, Tayshia and Zac jumped on their bed together, and Zac said he was totally "spun of control" for the girl. He said they had moments of passion and closeness throughout the night but also a lot of deep conversation.
Zac said he and Tayshia had chosen to trust each other and that trust would get them through anything. Zac intended to make Tayshia feel like "the most desired person in the world for a very, very long time."
Tayshia gushed about feeling "amazing" with Zac and acknowledged he wasn't saying "I love you" just to say it.
But after Zac left the date, Tayshia confessed Brendan had her heart since Day 1 and she loved more than one person at a time.
"I could honestly see myself ending up with any of these men," Tayshia explained.
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Brendan was concerned he may not be ready for another marriage proposal given he's divorced, but he hoped the date with Tayshia would propel them forward and give him the clarity he needed that Tayshia could definitely be his future wife.
Tayshia said Brendan was the first guy she started falling in love with.
"After our first one-on-one [date], I said, 'Brendan is it.' Because he literally is 'it.' I love everything about him!" Tayshia shared in a confessional.
For their date, Tayshia and Brendan met with the show's jeweler, Neil Lane, who showed the couple diamond bracelets, rings and more. Both Tayshia and Brendan tried on different pieces, and Brendan appeared a bit quiet and reserved.
Brendan realized the ring symbolized a future commitment that should last forever, and he admitted this was "a scary step" for him. Brendan wanted the next ring he gave to result in a marriage that would last forever.
"Am I ready to give Tayshia the commitment of 'forever?' I don't know," Brendan lamented.
Tayshia could sense Brendan was a little off or guarded during the date and that there was some type of disconnect. She struggled to read Brendan and didn't know where he was at in his mind.
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Tayshia admitted Brendan had been on her heart and mind since the very first day of her journey and she could definitely see a life together. Tayshia wondered if Brendan was just holding back because he was unaware of how she felt about him.
Brendan told Tayshia that he could envision her being the mother of his children but their date with Neil Lane reinforced the gravity of getting engaged. Brendan said he didn't take that lightly at all and he had a challenging past couple of weeks and days.
"When I came here, I thought I was ready and I knew I was ready in my own mind, and I even expressed that to you. But knowing you're ready -- because you want something so bad -- and I want a wife and kids and a family more than anything on the face of this earth," Brendan began.
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Brendan added, "All I want is to give you my whole heart, but as I sit here today, my heart isn't whole."
Brendan was on the verge of tears and explained it broke his heart but he needed to leave.
"You deserve a man that is complete, and you deserve a man who is healed from his past. And unfortunately right now, I'm not that man," Brendan said. "I'm so sorry."
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Tayshia was speechless at first. She said a younger version of herself would be pissed off at Brendan but she understood what he was feeling and going through since she had also been married before.
"As much as I would love to be with you at the end of all of this, if you're not ready, it's not something I'm going to push you to do. I already fought for someone to try to love me once, and I'm not going to do it again," Tayshia replied.
Tayshia therefore walked Brendan out and admitted to the cameras, "I really thought I was going to be with him. I really thought I was going to end up with Brendan."
"He's been a person every single day I've been like, 'It's Brendan.' Every single day," Tayshia revealed.
Brendan wished Tayshia all the best, and once he drove away, she broke down into tears. Tayshia initially felt safe with Brendan, but that security was no more.
Tayshia had trouble composing herself once Brendan self-eliminated and was gone.
"Tayshia told me that she could really picture me as her husband at the end of this, that she could picture a life with me. That was really the first time she expressed that to me, so it makes this that much harder," Brendan said in his final words.
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Following a whirlwind of emotions, Tayshia was trying to sort through a lot on her mind. She therefore sought some advice and guidance from former The Bachelorette star Rachel Lindsay.
Tayshia expressed how it sucked to say goodbye to Brendan but she received the clarity she needed from her other two Fantasy Suites.
Tayshia gushed about how Ivan was "a solid" or "a constant" during her journey and her connection with Zac had been "interesting" because she really didn't notice him on Night 1.
Tayshia also shared how she really liked Ben because he was hot, sweet and caring but he showed no emotion during his exit from the show. Tayshia acknowledged Ben must have hardened himself emotionally while in the military but it was amazing when she saw glimpses of his vulnerability.
When Rachel asked Tayshia if she was nervous about the idea of getting engaged again, Tayshia said she was feeling more "excitement."
Ahead of the Rose Ceremony, both Ivan and Zac were all in with Tayshia, but Zac noted anything could happen.
Suddenly, Ben showed up and asked The Bachelorette host Chris Harrison to meet with Tayshia.
"The way I saw our relationship going, I was going to marry her at the end. It was going to be me and her," Ben explained to the cameras. "The way that that ended, my brain couldn't work, and I wish I hadn't shut down in the moment."
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Ben told Chris that he needed to express himself to Tayshia and reveal he was "in love with her." Ben wasn't necessarily asking for a second chance; he said he just needed to tell Tayshia how he was feeling and resolve their "really weird breakup."
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Ben worried Tayshia might have let him go just because she didn't think her feelings for him were being reciprocated.
As Tayshia prepared for the Rose Ceremony in which she planned to give both Zac and Ivan roses and was excited about the idea of potentially getting engaged soon, Ben showed up on her doorstep.
Tayshia seemed almost bothered and annoyed by Ben's presence at first.
Ben explained to Tayshia that he was "so completely caught off guard" by his elimination that he didn't know what to do or say -- and he apologized for the way he had acted.
"I know it was just horrible. And for two days after, I kept asking, 'How the f-ck or what the f-ck just happened?!' I didn't even see that coming," Ben said.
"The feelings I've been describing to you this whole entire time, I just didn't know what it was. But I am in love with you. I have been in love with you."
Ben said he "blew it" by not telling Tayshia that earlier. He admitted he was "terrified" because he had never felt this way before.
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"But I am in love with you. The life we could have together, the thought of that, it keeps me awake at night," Ben revealed.
Ben said he didn't know what he was asking for but he couldn't leave and had to speak with Tayshia again. Ben reiterated how he saw a life with Tayshia, and she appeared completely overwhelmed.
Tayshia shook her head and seemed to be in shock, and she told Ben that she was "not alright."
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Tayshia walked into a different room and vented to a The Bachelorette producer how she didn't know what to do with Ben.
"What?!" Tayshia said. "I mean, I just want to cry. I don't know what to do. There is a Rose Ceremony. What do I do with that?!"
Part 1 of The Bachelorette finale then ended on a cliffhanger.
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
