Desiree Hartsock and Fiance Chris Siegfried Discuss Their Controversial Relationship
August 9, 2013 by Jessica Salem
Star of The Bachelorette Desiree Hartsock was left heartbroken when one of her 25 suitors, Brooks Forester revealed he was not in love with her and he was exiting the show. Hartsock had fallen hard for Forester and believed that he was The One. She was left crushed as she sobbed for hours. However, one week later, she was happily accepting a proposal from contestant Chris Siegfried. To fans of the show, it looked as if Siegfried was simply a rebound. But the new couple is saying otherwise. Hartsock and Siegfried sat down with PEOPLE magazine to reveal the details on their relationship and new life together.
“Brooks leaving gave me clarity,” Hartsock confessed,”I had been falling in love with Chris.” When Forester shocked her by quitting the final three to return home, Hartsock weeped that she wanted to quit as well but now she’s singing a different tune. “I knew I couldn’t give up and I’m so glad I didn’t,” she said. Hartsock believed that she was going to end up engaged to Forester but she believes it all worked out for the better. “Feelings are very accelerated during this process, and that helped me get over the hurt because I knew I had two amazing men left who did love me,” she explained. She says of Siegfried, “I knew he was in my life for a reason and I still had to pursue that.” After Forester’s shocking exit, Hartsock and Siegfried went on a date where she realized he was in the fact The One. As they shared a romantic meal and a deep conversation, she knew that she wanted to be with him forever. ”With Chris I feel like nothing could ever go wrong,” she happily exclaimed.
Hartsock has a message for all the naysayers out there, “I absolutely did not settle. Brook’s leaving gave me the opportunity to love Chris more. All I can say is it’s real and it’s going to last.” Siegfried understands that she had strong feelings for Forester but he never had any doubts that she would be unfaithful. “I was just excited [to propose]. It felt right, like it was supposed to happen, Des is The One” he said.