Married At First Sight’s Mishel Karen was given a raw deal by being paired up with Steve Burley.
The police worker and mother-of-two, 48, was more like the 52-year-old British barber’s therapist than wife as she helped him cope with his serious case of Peter Pan syndrome (when a grown man acts his shoe size and not his age).
WATCH: Michael says Steve is the ‘fakest’ person on MAFS and needs viagra
Mishel had to endure months of Steve shouting her down, showing her no physical affection and telling her that he wasn’t attracted to her. It was also revealed that prior to the experiment he asked to be matched with someone in their “mid to late thirties”.
During the final vows on Monday night’s episode, Mishel wised up to her sham marriage and let him have it.
“She deserves me in her life,” he said to the camera, oblivious about what was to come.
Steve’s vows: “Living with you as husband and wife is, and was, one of the greatest things I’ve done in my life. You inspired, encouraged and praised me. And above all, you loved me and trusted me for who I am, and I feel I did the same in return.
“Mishel, I will love you until my last breath for that.
“Mishel, I’m privileged to have called you my wife. We stayed strong through this, Mishel, and I’m so glad we did, cecause not having in each in our lives, in my opinion, would be a travesty to both of us.
“I’ve loved every second spent with you. I want you in my life, Mishel. You mean so much more to me than friends, you know that. I’ve missed you like crazy being at home on my own, and I feel that the closeness between us will only get stronger as time goes on.
“What an amazing thing to say – that I’ve met a stranger just two months ago, but now I can openly say, I love you. You’ve changed my life for the better, Mishel, and I’m so thankful I have you in my life, forever.”
Then it was Mishel’s turn. Strap yourselves in.
“Steve, I came here, to this experiment, to find love and to fall in love with someone,” she started out.
“As a woman, I never really valued or appreciated all of me, especially the quirky parts of me that make me, me. No one has ever told me to love my quirks or love myself, but you did, which I thank you for.
“On our wedding day, I walked up to you as a confident, strong and sexy woman, who was terribly nervous and scared.
“We grew very close and truly began to care for one another. We fell into a pattern of an old married couple, and because of that, I feel we have a very special bond.
“During the experiment, I became attracted to you, and grew genuine feelings of wanting to take this relationship to the next stage, but you were never ready to take the next step. Steve, you constantly told me how much you loved me, but even then, you didn’t consider how I was feeling.
“The fact you kept telling me you were not attracted to me made me doubt myself, doubt my attractiveness, lose confidence and strength. If the words you said to me were true and honest, then why did you not act on those feelings.
“You couldn’t even kiss me to find out. I felt that I had to show my worth, or show how valuable I am, but you just kept missing it, not seeing what was right in front of your eyes.
“I want a partner that deserves me, and wants me with all of their heart, soul and dreams.”
She continued: “In all honesty, Steve, although it hurts me to admit, I feel like you have been stringing me along this whole time. Giving me hope where there was no hope, you words were leaving me on to believe that you had stronger feelings for me than what you truly have – and that is not OK.
“During this experiment, my growth was not from your words, and boy, you had a lot to say. What made me stronger was your rejection.
“I have felt the least attractive, and least sensual I have ever felt in my whole life, spending this time with you, and listening to you remind me that you have no attraction.
“Believe me, when I say to you, Mishel, the woman that stands in front of you today, does not need to be validated by a man.
“Especially by a man that has not considered my feelings along this journey. As I always say, ‘A person comes into your life for a reason or a season’ and Steve, our season together is over.
“We are done. Steve, you have wasted my time.”
She pulled no punches and off she sauntered.
Married At First Sight’s Mishel Karen was given a raw deal by being paired up with Steve Burley.
The police worker and mother-of-two, 48, was more like the 52-year-old British barber’s therapist than wife as she helped him cope with his serious case of Peter Pan syndrome (when a grown man acts his shoe size and not his age).
WATCH: Michael says Steve is the ‘fakest’ person on MAFS and needs viagra
Married At First Sight’s Mishel Karen was given a raw deal by being paired up with Steve Burley.
The police worker and mother-of-two, 48, was more like the 52-year-old British barber’s therapist than wife as she helped him cope with his serious case of Peter Pan syndrome (when a grown man acts his shoe size and not his age).
WATCH: Michael says Steve is the ‘fakest’ person on MAFS and needs viagra
