Alexis Bellino Makes Her “RHOC” Return and Admits She and Boyfriend John Janssen Couldn't 'Fight the Feelings' — Watch
"[I'm] not friends with Shannon and unfortunately, your heart wants what it wants," Alexis said of her new romance with Shannon's ex John
Alexis Bellino is unapologetically in love.
In PEOPLE's exclusive look at the season 18 premiere of The Real Housewives of Orange County, Alexis makes her official return to the show when she met her costars Heather Dubrow and Emily Simpson for dinner.
While awaiting Alexis' arrival, Heather and Emily discuss the love triangle emerging between her, Shannon Storms Beador and the former's current boyfriend and latter's ex, John Janssen.
After Heather fills in Emily about Shannon's reservations about attending her upcoming party with Alexis also on the guest list, Heather tells cameras about their long history and why she wouldn't be abandoning her friend despite Shannon's discomfort.
"I have a long history with Alexis," Heather explains. "Alexis has had probably the worst year of her life. Her mother, who she was very, very close with, passed away. She needs friends right now, and I want to provide that for her."
Alexis eventually makes her entrance and sits down to tell the girls about her new romance. When Emily asks her about the ring John gave her as a gift, she pulls out her hand and Heather grabs a pair of glasses to get a closer look.
"November, 18 is the day that John Jansen I walked into my life," Alexis tells cameras. "I met John at [the bar] Quiet Woman — Shannon does not own Quiet Woman — I've been going there for over two decades."
She continues to recall, "John walks in and ends up sitting at my booth. We tried to fight the feelings after week two John and I knew that was it."
"I don't know Shannon, [I'm] not friends with Shannon and unfortunately, your heart wants what it wants and here we are. Take us or leave us."
Shannon reacted to Alexis' latest gift from John and confessed in an interview with E! News that she wasn't surprised at her new piece of hardware.
"That's John Janssen," she shrugged. "At two weeks, he said I was his person and his future, so they're following the John Janssen course. I didn't get a ring, but I thought right away that I was going to spend the rest of my life with John. He moves very quickly."
The mom of three said she wasn't bothered by their new union and wished them the best.
"Good for them, be happy," she said. "From the outside looking in, it looks to me that there are ulterior motives on both sides for them to be in a relationship, so we'll see. I'm grateful that John isn't in my life because we had a very toxic relationship. I'm grateful."
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Season 18 of The Real Housewives of Orange County premieres Thursday, July 11 (at 9 p.m. ET/PT) on Bravo.
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