CLEVELAND — In part 1 of The Bachelor season finale on Monday night, Clayton Echard completely blindsided Ohio University graduate Rachel Recchia and remaining contestant Gabby Windey with news that he was in love with both of them, as well as Susie Evans.
In an effort to be transparent, Clayton told both Rachel and Gabby that he had been intimate with both of them, thanks to Susie's abrupt departure at the conclusion of last week's episodes.
This led to both women walking away and breaking down in tears, not able to comprehend how Clayton could be in love with each of them, as he claimed.
In a dramatic start to the rose ceremony, Rachel accepted Clayton's offer for a rose and to continue on in the process, but Gabby initially declined, only changing her mind and being willing to stay after Clayton walked her out and begged her to give him another chance.
What the women didn't see was Clayton telling Susie that he was "the most in love" with her, before ultimately shutting down and sending her home on the night of what would have been their "fantasy suite" date.
That piece of information seemed crucial, since the women were much more upset over the declarations of love than they were with the fact that Clayton had been physical with both of them.
This was pointed out by Bachelor Nation fan favorite Nick Viall, who was invited onstage alongside other Bachelor alumni to give his take on Clayton's actions.
While Gabby and Rachel both eventually forgave Clayton and met his parents and brothers in Iceland, the cliffhanger episode ended with the Bachelor telling his family that he couldn't stop thinking about Susie and wanted to try once more to see if she would still have him.
This was upsetting for viewers, myself include, who posted on social media that he seemed like Clayton was keeping Rachel and Gabby on the backburner while trying to see if he still had a shot with Susie.
The episode ended with host Jesse Palmer bursting in while Clayton's family was telling him he had to let Susie go, only to reveal that Susie was actually still in Iceland.
In previews for tonight's live finale, we see Jesse approaching Susie and telling her that Clayton would like to see her, and that if she was in any way open to a reconciliation, she should go to him.
Those same previews show more tears from Rachel and Gabby, with one of the women telling Clayton that his actions were going to "haunt" him.
Check back here tomorrow, to see how Rachel's journey for love with Clayton ends, after The Bachelor finale airs live tonight on ABC.
