The Bachelor’s Maria Says Beef with Lea and Sydney Is ‘Squashed’ but Jess Drama Remains: ‘To Be Continued’ (Exclusive)

Maria Georgas returned to Bachelor on Monday to get past some of the seasonal drama.

Maria, 29, discussed her issues with Lea Cayanan, Sydney Gordon and Jess Edwards during the Women Tell All special. After the taping, the executive assistant told PEOPLE that she felt her feud with Leo, 23, and Sydney, 28, was “over and done with.”

“We actually made up and I respect those girls,” Maria said. “I said that to Sydney, because she said to me, ‘I don’t think you were this, that and something else. I don’t believe in that anymore. I’m sorry I said those things.’ And I said, ‘You know what? I believe you didn’t mean that about me. I think you were just trying to hit somebody.'”

“I don’t know what she was trying to do. But I believe she didn’t mean those things,” she added.

Joey Graziadei calls himself a ‘fun bachelor’ and Maria decides her fate after the drama in Sydney

Maria and Sydney clashed over Joey Graziadei’s season after Maria said she didn’t understand Madina Alam’s concerns about being the oldest contestant on the show. Sydney called Maria a bully and accused her of being “catty”. Joey then sent Sydney home after a two-on-one date with the vintage store owner and Maria.

After Sydney’s departure, Lea continued to lead the charge against Maria and became angry with Madina, 31, for being good to Maria. Lea called Maria a “drama queen cry baby” and told Joey that she and some of the other women were shocked by his decision to keep Maria.

Sydney (left) and Maria in ‘The Bachelor’.

Disney/John Fleenor

As for Jess, she got mad at Maria for talking to Joey during the cocktail party when she already had the rose. Jess found Maria’s behavior disrespectful and left the cocktail party in tears.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Maria said Jessa’s behavior during Women Tell All “surprised me a little bit.”

“I don’t know where he is,” Maria continued. “She apologized to me after calling me a bitch. And we’ve been good ever since. And then she tried to approach me, and I said, ‘Look, I thought I was going to tell the world that we’re good, and then you’re trying to play me.’ So, Jess, I don’t know yet. To be continued.”

Jess and Joey Graziadei in ‘The Bachelor’.

Disney/John Fleenor

Still, Maria, who was eliminated by Joey after the hometown dates, felt “great” about how everything went on Monday’s episode.

“The weight has been lifted,” she said. “I feel like now I can go out into the world and just be who I am without being asked a lot of questions. I feel fine.”

Joey Graziadei and Lea in ‘The Bachelor’.

Disney/Jan Thijs

The reality star believes that rewatching the series gave her closure. “Being able to see his thoughts and he says what he says, just seeing him all together and with other women. Everything just came together the way it was supposed to be,” said Maria. “That gave me a conclusion.”

As for whether he’ll consider continuing Bachelor in ParadiseMaria “won’t say no,” she said.

“I know a lot of people would love to see me on the beach,” she remarked. “It’s funny because before going on the show, my dad says, ‘OK, I accept Bachelor. Definitely not Bachelor in Paradise.‘But I’m open. Bacheloris difficult. But Bachelor in Paradise it’s kind of fun.”

Who went home on Bachelor Season 28? Joey Graziadei’s line of elimination

Maria previously acknowledged the drama on the show in a TikTok video she posted last month.

“I’m not innocent in this,” Maria admitted. “I like to say that I am a woman who speaks her mind and will defend herself at all costs, that’s how I was brought up. But if I could go back, I would do things differently – especially when whatever you say or do just won’t make the other person happy. So next time I’ll just close it.”

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bachelorseason 28 the finale airs Monday at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.

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