Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott have had what in only the simplest terms can be described as a rough year.
And Dean admits that he brought the pain on himself.
While serving as a guest cohost on E! News Thursday, the Chopped Canada host and reality-TV star sat down for a face-to-face with Giuliana Rancic, who of course wanted to know first and foremost how things truly are right now with Tori following the misery that played out on Lifetime's True Tori.
{Things are great," Dean said. "Our relationship is stronger than it's ever been and we're working very hard on that. I'm working very hard on myself—my sobriety, it means everything to me, becoming the dad and the husband that I've always wanted to be and that they deserve...I'm changing my life for the good."
That would be what his wife and four children deserve after all sorts of issues—not least of which being Dean's admitted infidelity—threatened to destroy their marriage after eight years together.
He said that Tori was able to understand that his issues do not define him, that "he is a good dad, he is a great husband, but this moment doesn't define him—so it's time for me to change and deal with my demons and become a better person, and be more present."
"I wake up every morning and I'm just so blessed that she's in my life still," Dean, looking fit and healthier than he has in a while, told Giuliana. "She's such a strong lady, and when this happened I was like, ‘Why don't you just leave me?'"
Fair enough question, one that many True Tori watchers—and Giuliana was one of them—asked as well.
"And she's like, ‘Well, I love you, I can't just turn that off,'" Dean recalled. "'I'm mad at you, I'm really upset, I'm really hurt—but I love you. That just doesn't go away.' We're trying to show people," he added, "that if that love is still there, love can conquer all and love does conquer all. It's just going to take a lot of work and a lot of tears and a lot of pain."
Speaking of which, why did they choose to let cameras follow them around during the messiest time of their lives again?
Watch the clip and let Dean explain why they let the world in via True Tori and whether or not he still believes that he and his wife are soul mates.
And don't miss Dean McDermott cohosting E! News tonight at 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.