The Bachelor star Brad Womack eliminated three bachelorettes and narrowed his love search to eight women during last night's broadcast of the ABC reality dating series' fifteenth season.

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Ashley Spivey, a 26-year-old nanny from New York, NY, was eliminated instead of Ashley Hebert, a 26-year-old dentist from Philadelphia, PA, during their two-on-one date with Brad, while Lisa Morrisey, a 24-year-old marketing coordinator from Ottawa, KS, and Marissa May, a 26-year-old sports publicist from Kissimmee, FL, were eliminated during the fifth episode's Rose Ceremony.

"I feel really sad. Now what didn't he see in me? I was being so open and honest and it just felt like someone just punched me in the stomach and the heart... I think that he's a great guy and he made me feel really special and I had such a good time with him... I'm just in disbelief right now. I really thought this was going to work out for me," Ashley S., lamented following her ouster. 

The Bachelor's fifth fifteenth-season episode began with The Bachelor host Chris Harrison telling the remaining 11 bachelorettes they would be traveling to Las Vegas for the week.

Once they arrived at the Aria Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas, they learned there would be a one-on-one date, a group date and a two-on-one date over the course of the next week. There would be a rose up for grabs during each date -- and if the bachelorettes on the one-on-one and two-on-one dates failed to receive a rose, they would be ousted immediately.

Shawntel Newton, a 25-year-old funeral director from Chico, CA, then was told she'd be accompanying Brad on the week's only one-on-one date.

Brad picked Shawntel up for their special day and brought her to a luxury shopping mall, where she was told she would receive a shopping spree and be able to buy anything she desired.

"I think it's every single woman's dream to be able to go from store to store and pick out whatever she wants... Shawntel is an incredibly sexy woman. She's sexy without trying to be, which makes her even sexier," Brad said in a confessional during their date.

Shawntel said Brad makes her feel like there's no one else in the world but the two of them, while she noted how natural she feels around him, getting butterflies when they are together.

When Shawntel got back to the bachelorettes' suite, there was a lot of tension in the room as jealousy stirred up about the pricey purchases Brad made for her. Shawntel then had some time to get ready before Brad picked her up again for their romantic rooftop dinner overlooking the city lights.

The couple then discussed Shawntel's profession and she feared it would scare Brad away. As a funeral director and mortician, she told him she has to take out the blood of dead bodies and insert chemicals for preservation and although Brad seemed to find the conversation a little uncomfortable, he laughed it off and had a great time with her.

"I'm so happy I had the chance to get to know you a little bit better. I think you're the hottest funeral director I've ever met. Shawntel, will you accept this rose, please?" Brad asked her.

After Shawntel accepted the rose, they watched fireworks together and ended the night with a "bang."    

"This night could not have been any better. It was a definite sigh of relief to not only get the rose, but to know that he accepts what I do and what I'm passionate about. I feel beyond lucky. I'm very blessed to be able to be here with Brad. To end the night with a really great kiss, I mean, that's a big bang," Shawntel said.

Back at the hotel, the other bachelorettes learned who would share the group date with Brad.

Jackie Gordon, a 27-year-old artist from New York, NY; Emily Maynard, a 24-year-old children's hospital event planner from Charlotte, NC; Lisa Morrisey, a 24-year-old marketing coordinator from Ottawa, KS; Marissa May, a 26-year-old sports publicist from Kissimmee, FL; Alli Travis, a 24-year-old apparel merchant from Columbus, OH; Chantal O'Brien, a 28-year-old executive assistant from Seattle, WA; Britt Billmaier, a 25-year-old food writer from Woodinville, WA; and Michelle Money, a 30-year-old hairstylist from Salt Lake City, UT, accompanied Brad on the week's group date.

Ashley S. and Ashley H. were shocked when they realized they were the only two women left, revealing that they would be the bachelorettes to go on the two-on-one date with Brad.

"I'm just heartbroken for a lot of reasons. It breaks my heart that he's uncertain, it breaks my heart that I'm going to have to go up against her, and I don't want to. It's going to tear us apart," Ashley H. said.

"I never thought it would be me and [Ashley H.] She is my best friend in the house. So, if Ashley ended up going home on the date, I would never ever forgive myself," Ashley S. said.

The girls then met Brad at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for their NASCAR date and they learned they would be racing racecars around the track. Britt was anxious about the danger of driving the racecar, but also admitted she would do mostly anything to show off for Brad. But the most emotion was coming from Emily.

Emily mentioned that Brad did not know about her NASCAR history, in that he knew her fiance Ricky Hendrick died in a plane crash, but not that he had been so involved in NASCAR. Brad was unaware that Ricky was a driver, crashed at the exact motor speedway the group date was on -- which ended his driving career -- and then changed to an ownership position. Emily tried to keep a happy face on for Brad, but he apparently saw right through the forced smile and immediately wanted to talk to her. 

"What are you thinking?" Emily asked Brad.

"I feel like a jerk is what I'm thinking," Brad replied.

"I just don't want you to feel like that at all," Emily said.

"I just honestly had no idea," Brad insisted.

Brad then felt guilty that he picked the date, but Emily said it was not his fault and not to put that on himself.

"The very second you feel uncomfortable, I will leave. We'll all leave. I don't care," Brad suggested.

"It's good for me," Emily confirmed.

"Are you going to be okay in the car?" Brad asked her.

"I think so," Emily replied.

"The way he reacted made me think of him in an even better light. He was there for me, but still just let me have a moment, which made me feel good," Emily said in a confessional.

Meanwhile, Brad was "impressed with Emily's tenacity" and found her strength admirable.

However, Emily started crying as she was sitting in the car waiting to drive. She thought about how much she missed Ricky and used to accompany him in the passenger seat because she was always too afraid to drive herself. Brad grew very concerned and told her she didn't have to drive, but Emily said she was excited and wanted to push herself to do it.

"I'm trying to just stay positive and just see this as what I need and to move on. I decided that I don't want to bring anything from my past into today. Ricky will always be a huge part of my life. I'll always love him. But the whole reason I came into this process was so that I could start something new with somebody new," Emily explained.

"While I'm driving around, not thinking about going the fastest. I was just driving around thinking that the first few laps were for Ricky, and the last lap is for me and I really am ready to find love again."

That night while the group date continued, Brad pulled Emily aside again, but a couple of the girls were very upset that she was getting all of the attention. Emily told Brad "it was therapeutic" for her and she was "happy," but Brad expressed his worry that he has serious shoes to fill and is concerned she only was in love once. Emily feared Brad was going to reject her because he can't deal with her past, but he assured he truly cares about her.

Alli then got her time with Brad after admitting her frustration with his strong connection with Emily, and told her she wished she could feel special around him. In addition, Chantal asked Brad to send her home if he does not feel about her the same way she feels for him, but all the while, Brad still had unfinished business with Emily.

Brad pulled Emily aside for the third time during the group date and apologized to the other girls, knowing his distribution of time to the bachelorettes wasn't near equal. He then gave the rose to Emily, telling her how much he cares for her and is falling for her.

"I am in shock, but I couldn't be happier. I definitely think, especially after tonight, that I'm absolutely falling for Brad. It has been a really long time since I've allowed myself to feel that way. It's a really good feeling," Emily said after accepting the rose.

The next day, Ashley H. and Ashley S. met Brad for their two-on-one date, where they got to go backstage to "Viva Elvis Cirque Du Soleil," of one of Las Vegas' biggest shows. Brad said he chose to take the two girls on the date together because although he likes the both of them, he also has concerns about them as well.

"I'm going to be fighting a lot of inner demons today. It's not just a competition between me and Ashley. I think it's like a huge competition with myself," Ashley S. said. "I feel like I'm always convincing someone to want to be with me, but I think that's maybe where I feel a little uneasy today."

Brad was told he had to pick one of the ladies to take part in the duet with him, which would enable the couple to actually become a part of the performance. After the three practiced the part, they all had dinner together and Brad revealed which woman would stay and which had to pack her bags and leave. Brad told the two bachelorettes he had to follow his heart and stop thinking with his head.

"[Ashley S.], from the very first time I met you, we had a connection. Your eyes -- I just love looking at you -- your personality could just light up a room. There's no doubt about it. [Ashley H.], you almost solidified to myself the fact that I have changed and I am capable of going through this journey, so I want to say thank you for that. Thank you very much," Brad started.

"Ashley S., I think you'll make an extraordinary wife. I don't think you'll make an extraordinary wife for me. I don't see things that are there that mean that you and I are made for each other. So, with that being said, Ashley H., will you accept this rose?" Brad asked.

Ashley H. accepted the rose, thrilled that Brad was as into her as she was into him, and Ashley S. was obviously heartbroken. Later that night, Ashley H. and Brad put on their show together and enjoyed their quality time alone.

Brad said although it was the hardest decision he has had to make yet during his whole The Bachelor experience, he knows he made the right decision and truly has an intense connection with Ashley H.

The next day, Brad met with his psychiatrist and they discussed his experience so far on The Bachelor. They talked about how Brad needs to keep reminding himself that it's his mission, and while he should take into consideration the women's emotions and feelings and accept them, he should not focus on them and move on to do what he came on the show to do. He learned that strength and vulnerability can exist together, and that he needs to think about what he need to find love.

That night, the cocktail party preceding the Rose Ceremony took place, so each of the bachelorettes would have one last chance to have some one-on-one time with Brad. Brad confronted Chantal about not bringing drama to the table, while he finally gave her Alli her much anticipated special attention. He gave Alli a small cake, matching the color of the dress she first wore out of the limo, and had a nice conversation.

Michelle then took it upon herself to get some alone time, and she pulled Brad into a room, closing the door behind them. She attempted to seduce him by barking orders at him and then kissing him, while telling him to send girls home.

The Bachelor's fifth Rose Ceremony then commenced.

"Tonight is very important to me. We're at a crossroads here. I care about all of you very very much, but what I based my decision on this evening is, 'Can I see myself with you as my wife?' I want you to know how much this means to me," Brad said before handing out the first rose at the ceremony.

Besides Shawntel, Emily and Ashley H., Brad gave roses to Michelle, Alli, Britt, Jackie, and Chantal.

"I wanted a rose. I wanted to find love and fall in love with Brad. It's hard to start liking a guy and not having enough time to express yourself and then you go home, and you're kind of like, 'Oh my gosh, all those things, I could have done differently,' and it just sucks. It just makes me question everything," Lisa lamented following her ouster. 

"It hurts to have to leave and feel rejected. I put myself out there time and time again and I wasn't right. I didn't fit. I left behind a lot to come here. I left everything in hopes of love, because I know I have so much to give, and I know that all it takes is to find someone who's ready to accept that. And, I didn't get it," Marissa said after she was eliminated.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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