Last night, Juan Pablo Galavis gave the final rose to Nikki Ferrell, but that was about the only sign of love he gave the contestant.

Many are now questioning the realness of Galavis and Ferrell's love as yesterday's finale featured neither a proposal nor an "I love you." In fact, Galavis went out his way to avoid the three words, and Ferrell admitted to host Chris Harrison that he has never said it.

"I'm not going to answer that question," Galavis responded when Harrison asked if he loved Ferrell. "People don't understand that this is real life ... We are happy we had the opportunity. It's been tough ... It hasn't been easy. What I'm feeling with Nikki is fantastic."

According to E! News, Galavis pretended that he might propose to Ferrell, but no one behind the scenes of The Bachelor believes their relationship will last.

"According to a source, a Neil Lane ring was on standby at the taping just in case Juan Pablo went through with the proposal -- but he didn't have it on him while he was filming," the website reports. "And while we're told that the controversial 32-year-old had no real intentions of getting down on one knee, he definitely toyed with the idea to the production team."

Those who were at the finale's taping "felt terrible for Nikki," according to an E! News "eyewitness."

"Everyone was saying that it seems like Juan Pablo controls her and she just gives in," the eyewitness said. "No one left the taping thinking this relationship is going to last."

Still, Ferrell demands respect for the relationship despite it starting in what Huffington Post describes as the "most awkward finale in franchise history."

"Being in the public eye does NOT give you the right to say what you want to me. Your words hurt no matter what. Be ashamed of yourselves," Ferrell said via Twitter.

Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @SH____4.