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The Bachelorette star Rachel Recchia did not get the ending she craved as her shortlived engagement with Tino Franco ended in a heartbreaking split. Before the grand finale, things seemed all-rose for the bachelorette, who had just one last man standing, just like her co-lead, Gabby Windey.
An excited Rachel looked forward to revealing the news to the contractor, letting him know she considered him her perfect match. In response, Tino admitted Rachel made him the happiest man alive, knowing she chose him. He also reassured her their romance would never cease to exist.
The Bachelorette contestant reiterated his assurances during his on-camera interview, “betting everything” that he and Rachel would last forever. Sadly, things went south sooner than anyone thought, marking the end of yet another Bachelorette showmance. What exactly went down between Rachel Recchia and Tino Franco leading to their split?
An Exciting Engagement
Before Tino got down on one knee, Rachel radiated excitement and happiness all day, looking forward to her big moment. She admitted her nervous feelings to the cameras, also describing Tino as the man of her dreams. She also admitted to nursing some doubts in her head despite having no reason to doubt her suitor. But those doubts seemed to wane over the moment she set eyes on him. She told Tino:
“I don’t feel like I could be happier than I am at this moment, because I am so madly in love with you. And I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
He proceeded to sing odes to The Bachelorette co-lead, promising her the world before popping the big question. An excited Rachel accepted his proposal “a million times” and handed Tino her final rose. The duo screamed, “we’re engaged,” afterward, with the flight attendant admitting she could not imagine spending her life with anyone else. Rachel and Tino then rode off on a white horse.
The Bachelorette Rachel Recchia And Tino Franco’s Bombshell Split
Tino Franco and Rachel Recchia’s promises of forever reached a dead end within weeks. During the After The Final Rose live special, the 26-year-old disclosed she and her fiance faced some difficulties in the weeks following their engagement. Their rough patch resulted from Tino’s past affairs, which surfaced unexpectedly. She told Jesse Palmer,
“I slowly was pulling on that string and revealing more and more. It really didn’t work out. He cheated on me. It’s just heartbreaking. This is the person I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with and start a family with.”
Sadly, their romance did not survive the bombshell. After a heart-to-heart conversation with her co-lead, Gabby Windey, Rachel found the strength to move on from Tino, who showed no regrets for his actions. She went on to confront Tino, who tried apologizing for kissing another girl. Explaining further, he pointed out that he made the “one-time mistake” because they were going through a hard time, which upset him.
Tino’s explanation fell on deaf ears, as Rachel insisted he showed no remorse or accountability. The contractor’s attempt to salvage their relationship backfired. In the end, the Bachelorette co-lead took off her engagement ring, saying,
“I’m done. This is such a big deal for me. I wanted to do this one time.”
Speaking to Jesse, Rachel admitted how hard it was to listen to Tino blame her for his infidelity, which ultimately led to their split. According to her, no one deserved that, a fact the 28-year-old realized a little too late. He tried to salvage the situation after meeting with the pilot in the studio.
Tino apologized to Rachel for pinning the blame on her and taking so long to apologize, but the bachelorette remained unflinching. In the end, the two went their separate ways after pouring out their hearts to each other. Not the ending Rachel Recchia hoped for, but at least she made a choice she deemed healthy at the nick of time, putting her happiness first.