Peter Weber ended his season as “The Bachelor” not engaged to anyone, but casually dating one of his contestants, Madison Prewett, much to his family’s disappointment.
Monday night’s first installment of the two-part finale left Weber heartbroken after Prewett, 23, decided to leave because the two don’t have compatible lifestyles: she’s very, very religious, he’s not. Neither one of them should have to change who they are. So she and her extra-length mascara left Australia.
Tuesday night’s finale got right into it, with ample hype that it would actually be “the most dramatic ‘Bachelor’ finale in history!,” even though host Chris Harrison, 48, will say that about anything.
Weber, ready to propose to the only girl left, Hannah Ann Sluss, 23, is shocked by the news that she may also have left him.
“There’s something I just found out about Hannah Ann, to be honest, I’m not sure that she’s coming,” Harrison says to Weber.
“Does she know Madison’s not here?,” the Bachelor, 28, asked. No, she didn’t. The model let second thoughts seep in: how could his heart be torn between two women at this stage? She stalled heading to receive her proposal.
It was all a ruse! She showed up anyways in a white dress (not the wedding dress she wore during the Revolve date, thank God). Just like the first impression rose from night one, Sluss accepted. “This is a dream come true,” as he carried her off to a champagne picnic, a mere 25 minutes into the episode.
Of course, Weber’s family, especially his dedicated mother Barbara, was thrilled at the news. Sluss was their pick of the litter.
Cut to one month later: Weber and Sluss meet for the first time since their romantic day. Sluss was near tears as he opened the door. “I have no doubt that I’m falling in love with you and I love you… I’m just struggling,” whispered the weepy pilot. Though out of sight, Prewett was not out of mind.
“When I said yes to you I said yes to a partnership,” said Sluss. “If you can’t give me that love in return, it’s not a relationship.”
No, admitted Weber. He can’t. “You took away from me my first engagement,” Sluss pushed back. Weber collapsed into the couch. After the commercial break, she had her girl power moment (“I have been my own rock through this!”) and forced him to take the Neil Lane diamond ring back.
Live in front of the nation, and more importantly, BACHELOR NATION, Weber gave insight into his decision. “I couldn’t match what she was giving to me, and that wasn’t fair,” he said. The two exes reunited on stage, with Sluss wearing apparent hair extensions to show that time has passed.
“Words are powerful, Peter. Either you don’t mean what you say, or you don’t understand how you impact people. So which one is it?,” questioned Sluss, in a definitely-not-rehearsed speech.
“If you want to be with a woman, you need to become a real man,” she finished her attack, slighting him for his continuing feelings for both Prewett and former Bachelorette Hannah Brown, who made several early appearances on this season.
Knowing of the split, host Harrison, ever the matchmaker, headed to Prewett’s hometown of Auburn, Alabama, without Weber’s knowledge.
“I’m the first to admit that if I was presented with the same situation I would have acted differently,” Prewett told him, full of regret.
Harrison told her that though Weber was engaged, he’s not anymore. And that’s because of his feelings for her. “If I had a second chance, I would take him in a heartbeat,” she said.
Prewett travels to LA, where she and Weber embrace like no time has passed. “I was hoping that I’d get closure and I just never did. I know that I have so much love in my heart for you,” she confessed.
“I made a million and one mistakes, but I know I fell in love with you,” he said.
Weber and Prewett, who works in adoption services and is also saving herself for marriage, hadn’t seen each other since that West Coast visit. They reunited on stage, fulfilling Harrison’s promise that “not even Peter knows how” the finale would end.
“I know how we both feel about each other. I think taking one step at a time, one day at a time is the smartest way to go about this. I have a lot of healing to do, I know that she does too,” said Weber, wanting a second — though less-committed — shot with Prewett.
Another ABC show, “Family Feud,” made its way on to “The Bachelor,” when drama queen Barb finally got to say her piece. No, Mama Weber didn’t get on with Prewett originally (though the contestant attended Barb and Peter Sr.’s 31-year-anniversary vow renewal, something she keeps forgetting).
“It’s gonna fail to succeed,” said Barb, knowing her son’s love of having sex. “All his friends know it’s not going to work.”
“All I know is I love Madison,” her son said back.
Daddy agreed. “When you’re getting into a relationship, that beginning should be the brightest spot. And that was anything but,” he said.
It’s Prewett and Weber vs. his family, that’s where their story ended.
Fingers crossed it finishes up on Instagram, where this drama belongs.
