In the latest episode of The Bachelor, tensions were high as Joey Graziadei continued his journey to find love. The episode began with Maria, who despite facing doubts from fellow contestant Lea, decided to fight for Joey's heart. After a cocktail party, Joey held his first international rose ceremony and gave roses to Kelsey A., Katelyn, Daisy, Rachel, Jenn, Autumn, Jess, Madina, and Lea, while saying goodbye to Allison and Edwina.
The remaining ladies then headed to Andalusia, Spain for their next set of dates. Kelsey A., 25, enjoyed a special one-on-one date with Joey. They started the day by indulging in cured ham and feeding each other, creating a sense of natural connection. Later, they joined a pickup soccer game and shared great chemistry.
During the evening portion of their date, Kelsey A. opened up to Joey about her mother's battle with breast cancer. She revealed that her mother passed away two months after the diagnosis and expressed her concerns about not having her mother at her wedding. Joey comforted her and expressed his admiration for her strength, ultimately giving her a rose. Kelsey A. happily accepted, feeling on 'cloud nine.'
The next group date involved nine of the remaining ladies, including Maria. They met with mixed media creator Paula, who challenged them to turn a quote into a painting. The winner would earn extra time with Joey. Each contestant showcased their artistic skills, and Jess emerged as the winner by painting an engagement ring and a wedding band. During their extra time together, Jess and Joey shared a playful moment, painting each other while in their bathing suits.
At the afterparty, Joey had conversations with several other contestants. He expressed admiration for Jenn, appreciating the significance of her painting. He also felt a genuine connection with Kelsey T., describing their bond as easygoing. However, it was Maria who captured Joey's attention when she shared a traumatic childhood experience. Maria revealed that she was in a severe car accident with her mother when she was just one year old, and her mother suffered extensive injuries. This revelation allowed Joey to see a deeper side of Maria and he gave her the date rose, upsetting Lea.
As tension escalated during the cocktail party, Maria interrupted Katelyn and Joey's conversation to spend more time with him. This upset Jess, who believed Maria's behavior was disrespectful since she already had a rose. The confrontation between Jess and Maria became heated, leading Jess to walk away in tears while Lea followed. The cocktail party came to an abrupt end, and everyone headed to the rose ceremony.
In the end, Joey handed out roses to Jenn, Kelsey T., Daisy, Lea, Lexi, Katelyn, and Jess. Unfortunately, Madina and Autumn did not receive roses and had to leave the competition.
As the episode concluded, tensions were running high among the remaining contestants. Viewers were left eagerly anticipating the next episode, which is set to air next week. Will Joey find true love in Andalusia, Spain? Stay tuned to The Bachelor to find out.
