By the time filming wrapped on The Bachelor, Arie Luyendyk Jr. was engaged — but Life & Style has exclusively learned that months after the cast and crew got back from South America, he changed his mind.

“Around two or three months ago, he was having doubts about her being the one and decided to end it, a source tells Life & Style. “And he didn’t want to wait until the live After the Final Rose special to do it.”

Instead, Arie split from his fiancée in January — and then, amazingly, the former race car driver sought out the runner-up, the woman he’d crushed months earlier by sending her home. Surprisingly, she agreed to take him back in a reconciliation filmed by the Bachelor crew. More than a month later, they’re still dating.

“It was so dramatic,” a source reveals to Life & Style, noting that the heart-wrenching breakup and makeup were both caught on camera. Though there were real feelings involved, “it’s TV gold,” the source admits.

Arie’s final two women, publicist Becca, 27, and tech salesperson Lauren, 25, wish things had played out differently, though. “The winner is absolutely devastated,” the source exclusively tells Life & Style.

For more on this dramatic finale, pick up the new issue of Life & Style, on stands now!