Vanessa Villela struts into her second season of Selling Sunset with a new boyfriend — but he might not be the man most fans were expecting to see. In the first episode of Season 5, the couple pops into an ice cream shop in West Hollywood. Meanwhile, via confessional, the Mexican American real estate agent shares that she’s been dating a photographer named Nick for the past 10 months. Since Nick lives in the UK, the two met online and, after flirting virtually for three months, decided to meet up in Mexico. Sparks flew under the Mexican sun and the trip, which was initially supposed to last just 10 days, turned into a whirlwind two months.

“I was so comfortable since the beginning [of our relationship] that I was just like, ‘This is it. This is the one,’ ” explains Vanessa in one of the show’s talking head interviews. Despite her confidence in the relationship, those who follow the agent outside of the show may assume that things turn sour between Vanessa and Nick since, in January 2022, the Selling Sunset star announced via Instagram that she was engaged to a man with a truly unforgettable name: Tom Fraud.

Vanessa Spills on her Relationship with Nick | Selling Sunset S5E1She's finally met the one.

However, as Season 5 continues, Vanessa’s romance with the man we’ve been introduced to as “Nick” evolves further, making her current engagement to one Tom Fraud even more confusing. In Episode 8, Nick stops by The Oppenheim Group to meet the other agents. After chatting with the women and fawning over his long-distance lover, Nick does something unexpected. Right in front of Mary, Amanza, Chrishell, Heather, Davina, Maya and Emma, he pulls out a ring box! 

Nick Gives Vanessa a Promise Ring | Selling Sunset S5E8and it's as cringey as it sounds.

Much to viewers’ (and probably the Selling Sunset producers’) disappointment, it turns out that Nick is giving Vanessa a promise ring and not an engagement ring. It might not be a betrothal, but it’s still a major symbol of commitment. So, it seems like V and Nick are pretty serious, but is this actually the guy she’s now planning to marry?

Yep, Nick and Tom Fraud are the same person.

Vanessa has, of course, posted plenty of photos of her partner on social media, but based on pictures alone, it’s hard to be sure the man featured on her Instagram is the same guy seen on the most recent season of Selling Sunset. She tags him as @tomfraud in every post, and his own Instagram profile does offer some clues about who he really is.

This so-called Tom Fraud’s Instagram bio reads “Tom Fraud is a fictitious name representing Art & Freedom!” But who is behind the fake name? Well, the bio also includes a link to his professional website, tomfraud.com, and the “about” section of his site finally clears up the connection between Nick and Tom. It says, “TF is a pseudonym created by Nicholas Hardy.” And Nicholas Hardy is, of course, the Selling Sunset Nick in question. Phew, for someone so open about being a “fraudster,” this guy’s true identity sure did take quite a bit of digging to uncover.

But what exactly is the deal with this convoluted persona? We reached out to ask. “Tom Fraud is a play on words and a fictitious name representing art and freedom as a practice. Many artists support the concept and idea, which entices the art world to go against the tide, [of] charting your own path and daring to create and innovate,” a rep for Vanessa tells Tudum, and that fraud is used as a play on words to emphasize an artist's freedom to create without limitations.

If you’re still a little unsure how to refer to this man, there is one more alternative identity for Vanessa’s beau. Right before Nick/Tom gives his girlfriend the promise ring, he meets the rest of the Oppenheim agents, and, naturally, the ladies ask his name. He responds, “Nick,” but Vanessa interjects to say, “You can call him the love of my life.” So… maybe just go with that.