The couple have already been through their fair share of battles, though. Not only has Ruthven’s brutal honesty (about Rawson’s looks and in rating her against the other brides ) been a sore point, his conflict with groom Sam Carraro exploded at a recent dinner party.
Bryce is unapologetic about throwing a glass of water over Sam, after Sam said he often saw Melissa in tears over her relationship. It’s a claim both Bryce and Melissa strenuously deny.
“If I had my chance again, I’d throw the whole jug of water over him,” Bryce, 31 says. “The guy’s only there for his 15 seconds of fame and he was provoking me for airtime. I think he worked out that he and Coco weren’t likely to last, so he had to make sure he made his mark.”
That confrontation over the status and treatment of his wife is a sore point for Bryce.
“Melissa and I had nothing to do with Sam outside of the experiment. We were focused on our own relationship, and for him to try and be a hero and basically lie about our relationship was too much.”
Melissa says she was shocked – but not surprised – by her husband’s actions and, despite the display of anger, reckons it hasn’t changed her feelings.
“I am very uncomfortable in situations like that. I don’t condone the behaviour, but I could tell he was upset, frustrated and reacting out of anger. I felt sorry for him, but I supported him.”
While they may seem an unlikely couple, with Bryce an obvious extrovert while Melissa is quiet and reserved, both say that their relationship is getting serious.
“The conflict around us actually strengthens our bond,” says Bryce. “I know Melissa has got my back, especially as it’s beginning to feel a bit like us against the world.”
Bryce adds that it was his desire to change his pattern, following a broken engagement, that has drawn him closer to Melissa.
“I ended my engagement – after a lot of thought – because it wasn’t right for me. I was brave enough to do that. My relationship with Melissa is very different from anyone I’ve been with before. She has a calming effect on me and I really respect her opinion. I’m excited about our future.”
Melissa agrees.
“I’m attracted to Bryce’s personality, his sense of humour and how accomplished he is,” she says. “Even when we had those difficult conversations [about looks], he was also really complimentary and affectionate.”
The couple are determined to make things work.
“We were matched by the experts for a reason,” says Bryce. “At this point, we’re meant to be together.”
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