Bachelorette Star Emily Maynard And Jef Holm Split

After cheating rumors and a whirlwind engagement, Emily Maynard and Jef Holm have split.

"I am sorry to tell you that Jef and I have, indeed, parted ways," Maynard confirms to People. "It was a very difficult and heartbreaking decision. As you know, at first I wasn't sure that I should even be The Bachelorette, but I am a hopeless romantic and I do believe in the show."

Maynard has "no regrets because I did find love and shared an incredible journey," adding, "I'm excited and hopeful for the next chapter in my life with my daughter, Ricki. I do hope that you will respect our privacy and allow us the time we need to heal."

Holm also confirmed the news, saying, "I've never loved someone so much in my whole life, Emily is the best person and mom I have ever met. She opened up her world to me and I fell in love with her, Ricki, her family and the Hendricks ... [It] breaks my heart, but we have decided to break up. Emily and I are great friends and I hope we can continue to be friends forever. Everyone wants a salacious story to break, but the truth is we are just two people who fell in love and tried our hardest to make it work. I will always love her."

After getting engaged on the July 22 finale episode of The Bachelorette's 8th season, their relationship hit a snag in August when it was reported that Maynard was texting Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt Leinert. Maynard and Holm got into a fight over it during a family vacation in South Carolina, and tonight the 28-year-old entrepreneur changed his Facebook relationship status from being "engaged" to "single."