Friend: Jessica Simpson Sad, but Not Surprised by Nick's Engagement

By Rob Shuter Posted Nov 5th 2010 07:35AM

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo's engagement news on Thursday came as a surprise for everyone except ex-wife Jessica Simpson, who knew the day would come when the man she let get away would propose to another woman.

"Even though Jessica wants to be happy for Nick, this is a very difficult time for her," a friend of Simpson's tells me. "Nick was the love of her life then, man, and he was her first, so she will always have a very special place in her heart for him. She's deeply saddened."

The happy couple told Us Weekly that they were excited and incredibly happy about their engagement and look forward to a wonderful future together. Classy Nick got down on one knee and popped the question with an Asscher-cut diamond.

It was merely months after his ugly divorce from Jessica that Nick and Vanessa started dating in 2006, and although they briefly separated last summer, they got back together very quickly.

"Nick knows what it's like to lose someone that you love and wasn't going to let it happen again," a friend of the crooner tells me. "He never thought he would ever get married again after Jessica broke his heart. He never thought he would ever allow himself to be vulnerable again, but after dating for a long time he trusts Vanessa and knows she's the girl he wants to spend the rest of his life with."

A Simpson insider tells me Jessica has yet to contact Nick to say congrats, and that it's possible it may stay that way for a while, for fear she may not come off as sincere.

"If you can't say something nice, it's better to say nothing at all."

Follow Rob on Twitter for Scoop All Day Long

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=930505&pid=930504&uts=1288624744

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/music/?s_channel=us.musicpop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

LONG BEACH, CA - OCTOBER 25: Actress/recording artist Jessica Simpson speaks during the Maria Shriver Women's Conference at the Long Beach Convention Center on October 25, 2010 in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

(L-R) Nina Garcia, Jessica simpson, Michael Koors and Heidi Klum attend the "Project Runway" Season 8 finale fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2011 at The Theater at Lincoln Center on September 9, 2010 in New York City. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2011 -Project Runway The Theater at Lincoln Center New York, NY United States September 9, 2010 Photo by George Napolitano/FilmMagic.com To license this image (61540178), contact FilmMagic.com

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Jessica Simpson, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors and Heidi Klum attend the Project Runway Spring 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Theater at Lincoln Center on September 9, 2010 in New York City. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2011 - Project Runway - Front Row & Backstage The Theater at Lincoln Center New York, NY United States September 9, 2010 Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com To license this image (61539377), contact WireImage.com

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Nina Garcia, Jessica simpson, Michael Kors and Heidi Klum attend the Project Runway Spring 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Theater at Lincoln Center on September 9, 2010 in New York City. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2011 - Project Runway - Front Row & Backstage The Theater at Lincoln Center New York, NY United States September 9, 2010 Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com To license this image (61539384), contact WireImage.com

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

From left, judges Nina Garcia, Jessica Simpson, Michael Kors and Heidi Klum attend the Project Runway Season 8 finale fashion show at the Theatre at Lincoln Center during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Singer Jessica Simpson attends the Project Runway Season 8 finale fashion show at the Theatre at Lincoln Center during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Special guest judge Jessica Simpson, left, joins judge and designer Michael Kors and host Heidi Klum, right, at the Project Runway Season 8 finale fashion show at the Theatre at Lincoln Center during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Jessica Simpson Snapshots

Tags: jessica simpson, nick lachey

Comments

(70)

Saturday 06 November

By amlngn

Vote down Vote up Report this

thats Ok, she's keeping it real.

By agmom04

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

What??? She dumped him. She let her daddy tell her how to live her life and still does. Until she dumps Dad she's never going to have a lasting relationship. She has nothing to be sad about. She should be glad that Nick has found some measure of happiness for himself. Jessica is a piece of work. I'm not impressed at all. At 30, you'd think she'd be grown-up, but she's acts like a child. I guess daddy being up your behind all the time arrests your development. Time to give Dad the heave-ho, Jess. Someone else can manage your career. Someone with no dog in the hunt. Quit paying Dad's salary and get a life!

By Terra

Vanessa put the time in ~~ she deserves the man. Congrats Nick and Vanessa!!

Wednesday 10 November

By Lena

If she's so upset by his getting engaged 5 years after their divorce, perhaps she shouldn't have left him.

Sunday 07 November

By Mindee

Congratulations to Nick & Vanessa! Wish you both the very best of luck as husband & wife.

By Delores Williams

Can we go with bull hockey on this. As much as she has dated around, and since she was the one to kick him to the curb, I doubt she is all the upset. She blew her marriage.

Monday 08 November

By rob

typical woman. first she tortures the poor guy leaves him and now is upset since he has a new love and is happy with life.

By Mweed

I enjoyed Nick and Jessica as a couple, as silly as their reality show could be at times, I could see that she had NO IDEA how special her husband was. I could see that because of her age and inexperience that she didn't know that all those sweet and thoughtful things her young husband did just to make her happy, were not things most men think of. I knew 1 day she'd regret losing him when she matured. There is truly nothing worse than 'losing what you never knew you had." Thats what happens when you are so young and naive. Surely, all she wants in a partner...is all the things she had in Nick. Too bad for you both.

By Darla

Why would she contact him to congratulate him...it's really none of her business.

By SarahPalubinski

Jessica's marriage ended because her creepy father could not stay out of their marriage and business. He ruines pretty much everything in her life. At least Ashley is smart enough to tell him to BACK OFF!

Page 4 of 4