He was reluctant to share his feelings throughout the process of wooing Ali Oetjen.
And although he could not say those magic words during their final date, Taite Radley took home the final rose and Ali’s heart.
In the emotional finale on Thursday night, Ali declared her love for Taite and got that that love back in droves.
‘It’s about risking it all’: Taite Radley wins Ali Oetjen’s heart on the emotionally-charged Bachelorette finale despite telling her he doesn’t want to get married or have children… and hands her a ‘commitment ring’
As Taite arrived to meet her, Ali confessed to camera that she’s learned that love is ‘not just a timeline, love is compromise.’
‘I know Taite’s not going to say I love you, and somehow I’m okay with that,’ the blonde revealed.
Holding Taite’s hands, an emotional Ali said: ‘I am looking for that right guy. That right guy is going to make me laugh every day.
Holding Taite’s hands, an emotional Ali said: ‘I am looking for that right guy. That right guy is going to make me laugh every day
Spilling it all: ‘Love is not just about filling one person’s dream. It’s about compromise, it’s about sacrifice’ Ali said
‘That right guy is going to make me feel like I can take on the world with him.
‘Love is not just about filling one person’s dream. It’s about compromise, it’s about sacrifice.
‘It’s about sacrificing it all. And I’m willing to sacrifice it all because I am so in love with you’.
Taite finally said the words that Ali was so desperate to hear: ‘I’m falling in love with you. I love you Ali’
Promise: He then handed her a commitment ring as she gasped
Taite finally said the words that Ali was so desperate to hear: ‘I’m falling in love with you. I love you Ali’.
He then handed her a commitment ring, saying that it was a commitment to their life together outside the show.
As the pair embraced, Ali said: ‘I trusted my heart and I’m so happy’.
Together: Taite said that it was a commitment to their life together outside the show
As the pair embraced, Ali said: ‘I trusted my heart and I’m so happy’
Earlier in the episode, as Todd King’s car car pulled up to meet Ali for the final decision, Todd said: ‘I love Ali more than she’ll ever understand’.
He was then seen looking down at a diamond ring, indicating that he may have been ready to propose to the blonde fitness instructor.
Sadly, he faced a devastating rejection from Ali instead.
Ali told him: ‘I have learned from my mistakes. And I feel like we would have a perfect life together. But something is missing for me.
Ali told him: ‘I have learned from my mistakes. And I feel like we would have a perfect life together. But something is missing for me’
Tate took the rejection well, saying: ‘I am so happy for you. You have found yourself a great guy. As much as it looks like I’m sad, I’m happy for you too’
‘What I’ve learned is love isn’t about ticking off a checklist. And it’s led me to someone else.’
Tate took the rejection well, saying: ‘I am so happy for you. You have found yourself a great guy. As much as it looks like I’m sad, I’m happy for you too’.
As Ali wept in his arms, Todd promised: ‘It’s okay. It’s alright. I want you to be happy. But if you ever need me, I will be there.’
Overwhelmed, both Ali and Todd erupted in tears, with Ali falling to the floor in sobs, and Todd weeping as he leaned against a tree.
So upset at the result: Overwhelmed, both Ali and Todd erupted in tears
Dramatic ending! The exchange ended with Ali falling to the floor in sobs
Todd covered his face as he wept, saying: ‘I am so broken, but I am so happy for her’
He covered his face as he wept, saying: ‘I am so broken, but I am so happy for her’.
As she approached her final decision, Ali said that she knew for sure that she was in love with the winner.
‘It feels really amazing to be standing here. It’s been a huge process for me. Throughout the process I’m been thinking with my head, following my heart and trusting my love.
‘It’s a love for me that’s going to be everlasting. I’ve been in there position. Nothing could prepare me for this,’ she said.
Meanwhile, in an Instagram post shared before the finale, Taite, 28, revealed he doubted he could develop feelings in a TV show environment.
‘Thankfully everything I am feeling right now is real. The moments we share, the words we speak and the way we look into each other’s eyes. Ali is an amazing woman,’ he wrote.
Careful: Taite was reluctant to share his feelings throughout the process of wooing Ali
Worried: In an Instagram post shared before the finale, Taite, 28, revealed he doubted he could develop feelings in a TV show environment but said he’d ‘opened up’ because of Ali
The handsome bank manager continued, ‘She has helped me open up far more than I expected I could ever do, and for this I’m thankful.
‘I know more than ever in my life I’m ready to surrender my feelings, let my guard down and let that special someone into my life.’
‘Tonight I’m excited to see if I am everything she is looking for,’ he wrote.
Still struggling: However as the week’s passed, even after a successful home town date in Ballarat, Taite remained closed
Ali had repeatedly shared her frustration that Taite was not opening up to her, with the hunk admitting privately that he was smitten, but scared of getting hurt.
Early in the series, Ali admitted she was already starting to ‘fall in love’ with sutior Taite during their first single date on the Network Ten dating show.
However as the week’s passed, even after a successful home town date in Ballarat, Taite remained closed.
Concerns: Ali had repeatedly shared her frustration that Taite was not opening up to her, with the hunk admitting privately that he was smitten, but scared of getting hurt
Not enough: Ahead of the finale, the pair shared a tense hot tub date during which the former body builder was only willing to say that he could ‘see himself’ with the blonde
Ahead of the finale, the pair shared a tense hot tub date during which the former body builder was only willing to say that he could ‘see himself’ with the blonde.
‘That’s… good’ Ali replied awkwardly.
As her tension over Taite’s lack of expression mounted, it appeared that the pair would not make it to the finish line.
Trying: As her tension over Taite’s lack of expression mounted, it appeared that the pair would not make it to the finish line
Still on? Ali implied to Kyle and Jackie O on Thursday that she is still dating her winner
On their final ever date however, the dam finally broke and Taite admitted his feelings, hence sealing his fate in Ali’s arms.
This comes after Ali implied to KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O on Thursday that she is still dating her winner.
She revealed: ‘I can definitely tell you that I do pick someone,’ and referred to the winner as her ‘main squeeze.’
Still so loved up! The blode revealed the winner was her ‘main squeeze’