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Dennis Shields Proposed to Bethenny Frankel Before His Death: 'She Didn't Say No’
![Dennis shields proposed bethenny frankel before his death pp](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aZyip_iqy/480x251/2018/08/dennis-shields-proposed-bethenny-frankel-before-his-death-pp.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aZyip_iqy/640x335/2018/08/dennis-shields-proposed-bethenny-frankel-before-his-death-pp.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aZyip_iqy/768x402/2018/08/dennis-shields-proposed-bethenny-frankel-before-his-death-pp.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aZyip_iqy/1024x536/2018/08/dennis-shields-proposed-bethenny-frankel-before-his-death-pp.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aZyip_iqy/1280x670/2018/08/dennis-shields-proposed-bethenny-frankel-before-his-death-pp.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aZyip_iqy/1440x753/2018/08/dennis-shields-proposed-bethenny-frankel-before-his-death-pp.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aZyip_iqy/1600x837/2018/08/dennis-shields-proposed-bethenny-frankel-before-his-death-pp.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/aZyip_iqy/2160x1130/2018/08/dennis-shields-proposed-bethenny-frankel-before-his-death-pp.jpg 2160w)
Aug. 14 2018, Updated 4:31 p.m. ET
Bethenny Frankel’s ex-boyfriend Dennis Shields died tragically of a drug overdose last Friday, August 10. The Real Housewives of New York City star dated the businessman on and off since 2016, but a friend of Bethenny revealed Dennis had proposed to her just months before his devastating death.
![EXCLUSIVE: Bethenny Frankel breaks down at Dennis Shields’ burial](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Bn30yso-0/480x384/2018/08/MEGA262358_006.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Bn30yso-0/640x512/2018/08/MEGA262358_006.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Bn30yso-0/768x615/2018/08/MEGA262358_006.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Bn30yso-0/1024x820/2018/08/MEGA262358_006.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Bn30yso-0/1280x1024/2018/08/MEGA262358_006.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Bn30yso-0/1440x1152/2018/08/MEGA262358_006.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Bn30yso-0/1600x1280/2018/08/MEGA262358_006.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/Bn30yso-0/2160x1728/2018/08/MEGA262358_006.jpg 2160w)
“He proposed to her with a ring in April. She wasn’t wearing the ring,” the friend told People. “There were some hurdles to overcome before she could make that level of a commitment.”
![EXCLUSIVE: Bethenny Frankel breaks down at Dennis Shields’ burial](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/TutY0_4sk/480x385/2018/08/MEGA262358_007.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/TutY0_4sk/640x513/2018/08/MEGA262358_007.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/TutY0_4sk/768x615/2018/08/MEGA262358_007.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/TutY0_4sk/1024x820/2018/08/MEGA262358_007.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/TutY0_4sk/1280x1025/2018/08/MEGA262358_007.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/TutY0_4sk/1440x1153/2018/08/MEGA262358_007.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/TutY0_4sk/1600x1281/2018/08/MEGA262358_007.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/TutY0_4sk/2160x1729/2018/08/MEGA262358_007.jpg 2160w)
Still, Bethenny “loved him.” “He’s her family and her best friend and her confidante. Her partner and her business partner,” the insider shared.
![EXCLUSIVE: Bethenny Frankel breaks down at Dennis Shields’ burial](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/OwgPQFm5r/480x384/2018/08/MEGA262358_026.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/OwgPQFm5r/640x512/2018/08/MEGA262358_026.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/OwgPQFm5r/768x615/2018/08/MEGA262358_026.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/OwgPQFm5r/1024x820/2018/08/MEGA262358_026.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/OwgPQFm5r/1280x1024/2018/08/MEGA262358_026.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/OwgPQFm5r/1440x1152/2018/08/MEGA262358_026.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/OwgPQFm5r/1600x1280/2018/08/MEGA262358_026.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/OwgPQFm5r/2160x1728/2018/08/MEGA262358_026.jpg 2160w)
The source said “very few people knew about the proposal” and it could be because Bethenny didn’t give Dennis a clear answer. “He’s proposed before — but never with a ring,” the insider shared. “She didn’t say no. She would have loved to have married him, but there were some hurdles to overcome first.”
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![EXCLUSIVE: Bethenny Frankel breaks down at Dennis Shields’ burial](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/SvIVPrXRc/480x385/2018/08/MEGA262358_032.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/SvIVPrXRc/640x513/2018/08/MEGA262358_032.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/SvIVPrXRc/768x615/2018/08/MEGA262358_032.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/SvIVPrXRc/1024x820/2018/08/MEGA262358_032.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/SvIVPrXRc/1280x1025/2018/08/MEGA262358_032.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/SvIVPrXRc/1440x1153/2018/08/MEGA262358_032.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/SvIVPrXRc/1600x1281/2018/08/MEGA262358_032.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/SvIVPrXRc/2160x1729/2018/08/MEGA262358_032.jpg 2160w)
Despite the up and down nature of their relationship, the friend said Bethenny “is devastated” and had just “talked to Dennis this past week.”
![EXCLUSIVE: Bethenny Frankel breaks down at Dennis Shields’ burial](https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/lunLnCmGT/480x270/2018/08/MEGA262358_034.jpg 480w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/lunLnCmGT/640x360/2018/08/MEGA262358_034.jpg 640w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/lunLnCmGT/768x432/2018/08/MEGA262358_034.jpg 768w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/lunLnCmGT/1024x576/2018/08/MEGA262358_034.jpg 1024w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/lunLnCmGT/1280x720/2018/08/MEGA262358_034.jpg 1280w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/lunLnCmGT/1440x810/2018/08/MEGA262358_034.jpg 1440w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/lunLnCmGT/1600x900/2018/08/MEGA262358_034.jpg 1600w, https://media.okmagazine.com/brand-img/lunLnCmGT/2160x1215/2018/08/MEGA262358_034.jpg 2160w)
“He loved her and she loved him,” the pal shared. “She would have loved to have married him, but they were still working through their issues. She wanted to make it work.”
Do you think Bethenny would have married Dennis? Sound off in the comments below.