Clayton Echard‘s season of “The Bachelor” was absolutely anything but smooth sailing, and Bachelor Nation surely thought there couldn’t possibly be any more aggressive waves in Echard’s ocean after watching the first part of the finale which aired on Monday night.
Hang on to your roses! The second part of Echard’s finale not only rocked the boat but also contained plenty of thrones.
A Bachelor Break-Up For The Ages
Gabby really said ✨no✨ #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/sQhJ98D4kq
— The Bachelor (@BachelorABC) March 16, 2022
The last time we saw our Bachelor he was sitting with his family in their Airbnb overlooking Iceland, and our man had plenty to ponder.
While going over his dilemma of being in love with not one, or two, but THREE of his final contestants, Echard realized which Bachelor beauty fully had his heart.
Susie Evans had left the mansion when she realized she would not be able to look past Echard having been intimate in the fantasy suites with the other remaining ladies, Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey.
Evans may have left the mansion but she had not left Echard’s heart, nor, as he would soon find out via Jesse Palmer, she had not left Iceland!
Echard soon knew what he had to do next. Suddenly his plan to win Evans back sprung into action!
After what seemed like only a few seconds, Palmer was off to Evans’ hotel room where he informs her Echard would love to revisit their relationship, but Evans still seems hesitant and like she needs a bit more time to reflect on what’s going on.
She wouldn’t be given any time to process because she’s then whisked away to meet Echard’s parents back at their Airbnb. Evans then attempts to pump the breaks and the duo have a private conversation to check in and figure out what to do next.
Evans expresses her lingering feelings of uncertainty and soon leaves after she makes it clear she would need more time to think everything over.
Echard, however, does not need any more time, and it is clear to him what he should do next.
In a decision that Bachelor Nation will surely be reeling from for the foreseeable future, he goes back to the hotel where his two remaining ladies Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey are waiting and decides to break up with them at the same time.
The ladies are seen conversing and trying to decipher Echard’s actions on the day of their respective meetings with his parents. Just as their skepticism couldn’t get any stronger, Echard enters the room and drops the dreaded break-up bomb.
Windey clearly has no more roses to give about Echard’s indecisiveness.
She then stood up and gave a breakup response for the ages. She said, “I really don’t have anything to say. Thank you, I know it was hard to come here and tell us, but I think you were too late. As for both of us, you could have thought about it before, putting yourself in our shoes. So that’s it, I think for me,” as per E!.
Recchia, however, had a LOT to say in response. The 25-year-old tearfully told him she believed he “Never once fought” for their relationship, and she had “Tried so hard” to do so. She then gave her own mic drop moment where she agreed with him that breaking up could be “The biggest mistake” he could possibly make.
A Not-So-Rosy Reflection
‘you gave up. i never gave up. i’ll never stop fighting for us.’ single most heartbreaking thing i have EVER seen on this show 😭😭😭 #thebachelor pic.twitter.com/IXM4rOSZFs
— connor b (@sad_oat) March 16, 2022
As Bachelor Nation witnessed these heartbreaking and gasp-worthy moments, a live studio audience gathered for the “After The Final Rose” special, also were able to witness and react to the drama in real-time.
Windey and Recchia were present in the studio as well, and understandably had much to say upon watching their devastating double-whammy of a breakup, while also getting to see how Echard’s reunion with Evans had panned out.
Windey explained to Echard he needed to treat her, Recchia, and Evans “As individuals” instead of thinking of his top three as a unit. She also said “I don’t have the same needs as Susie. I’m not Susie, and neither is Rachel,” as per Us Weekly.
Recchia was firm in her stance that Echard did not genuinely love her, and his only intention was to do all that he could to pursue his relationship with Evans. Of his decision to break-up with both her and Windey at the same time, she said, “It was almost as if you cast us aside as quickly as you could to [get to] the person you loved the most,” per Us Weekly.
Clayton’s Final Rose
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Bachelor Nation would also soon learn not only did Echard propose to Evans, (which she turned down), but the pair were back together after time apart!
Clayton Echard may not have put a ring on it, but he was able to give his final rose to his dream girl!
