On Jan. 22, millions of viewers tuned into NBC's "InStyle Celebrity Weddings" to watch lovebirds KELLY RUTHERFORD and CARLOS TARAJANO recite their marriage vows. But the couple's fairytale romance turned into a horror story when Carlos was struck down by near-fatal illness. While a devoted Kelly stood by his side as he recuperated, on Jan. 11, she filed for divorce. And ET has the exclusive story!

It was love at first sight when Carlos, a banker, spotted the former "Melrose Place" starlet across a crowded restaurant over a year ago. As Carlos told ET, "One of my first questions was, 'Will you marry me?'"

That same evening, the smitten groom-to-be designed a wedding ring that he slipped on Kelly's finger a few months later. The couple tied the knot eight months later, in June 2001.

But alas, this Hollywood story did not have a happy ending: Three months after the wedding, Carlos collapsed while taking a shower and was rushed to the hospital. "Thank God she was taking her makeup off while I was talking to her," he recalls. "I nearly died in the shower."

Carlos, who was diagnosed with a heart condition, contends that Kelly never left his side during his stay in the hospital. But he claims that her dedication seemed to wane once he returned home. At first, Carlos depended on Kelly completely—even just to tie his shoes or brush his teeth! As he recovered, however, Carlos said that his new wife became more distant. Eventually, Kelly packed up and left.

Carlos says that his repeated attempts to reconcile proved unsucessful. Then, he discovered that "InStyle Celebrity Weddings" was ready to air footage of the couple's big day and a wedding-related interview. Surprised, Carlos called the magazine but was told that Kelly had reassured them that all was well with the marriage. So the magazine went ahead and aired the segment.

Despite being embarrassed by the "InStyle" telecast, Carlos asserts that he is "not mad—I am disappointed."