‐ Tonight on "The Bachelor"...
[dramatic music]
It's an emotional season finale
as Matt's journey comes to a shocking conclusion.
‐ I'm about to make
one of the most important decisions of my life‐‐
to find love, to find a wife,
to leave this thing engaged.
♪ ♪
I don't‐‐I don't know what I'ma do.
‐ Two women have captured his heart,
Rachael and Michelle.
‐ I am very much in love with your son.
[both laugh]
‐ Every time I see him, I can't breathe.
I really love him.
‐ But is Matt really ready to commit to love?
‐ I don't like to sound negative or anything, but...
‐ Whoo!
‐ It's gonna be tough for Matt.
‐ You can't just say it's all love.
Love is not the end‐all, be‐all.
‐ [crying]
‐ It's not gonna be easy.
‐ [sighs]
‐ Can he overcome his biggest fear?
‐ I feel like everything that I was working towards
is starting to crumble. ‐ [sniffs]
‐ Or will he close his heart to love forever?
‐ He didn't even wanna see me today.
‐ Tell me where you're at.
‐ I don't know how to go on.
‐ [sniffles] ‐ And I'm scared.
‐ [crying]
‐ Is love enough?
[sighs, sniffs]
‐ And later tonight...
‐ My name is Emmanuel Acho.
I'm sitting in for Chris Harrison tonight,
which already makes this
the most shocking "After the Final Rose" ever.
‐ Unpack Matt's traumatic journey to find love.
‐ It felt like an extended honeymoon period.
‐ Are y'all still together?
‐ [laughs]
‐ And dive into all the controversy.
‐ Photos recently emerged
of you at a Antebellum plantation‐themed party.
‐ [sniffs]
‐ Matt, how hard is this on you?
♪ ♪
‐ [sighs]
‐ Plus a shocking reveal that changes everything.
‐ We're gonna meet our new Bachelorette.
And if you think you know who it is,
get ready for a curveball, Bachelor Nation.
‐ It's all happening tonight
on the stunning season finale of "The Bachelor."
[wind whistling]
[soft music]
♪ ♪
‐ It's the final week.
Getting to this point, it's been such a long journey.
It's down to two women, Michelle and Rachael,
and I'm all‐in with the both of them.
Like, Michelle, when you have a checklist
of everything you're looking for in a wife‐‐
someone who's loyal, someone who's smart,
understanding, patient, kind‐‐ that's Michelle.
♪ ♪
Rachael is someone that I'm obviously attracted to,
but the thing that I'm most attracted to about Rachael
is she's someone who pushes me to be open,
pushes me to be vulnerable
and tap into those sides of my emotions and feelings
that I've ran from in the past.
♪ ♪
Last week, that conversation with my dad,
it was very intense.
I know that the insecurities
that I've always had in relationships
are rooted in what I saw
in his relationship with my mom.
But, you know, I'm not my dad.
I know what I want. I want a family.
I want to be a husband. I want to have kids.
♪ ♪
‐ [laughing] ‐ What's up? Oh.
‐ Hey, babe.
[laughs]
‐ Today, my mom and brother are up here,
and I'm very excited for them to meet
the two women that I've been falling in love with.
Love you too. ‐ You look great.
‐ What's up, money? ‐ What up, fool?
With the decisions I have coming up, I need counsel.
‐ You got the waves going? ‐ Got the waves going.
‐ Okay. [laughter]
‐ Knowing how important family is to me,
there's a lot riding on these conversations.
[sighs]
‐ Matt, we've been in suspense sitting here.
‐ For real? ‐ Yes.
‐ Um, I don't even know where to start.
Like, there's so much stuff that's happened,
and, um, you all know.
I'm‐‐I'm very closed off
when it comes to relationships in the past
and not sharing my emotions
and how I'm feeling about stuff,
and that's not why I came here, you know?
I came here to‐‐to find a wife
and have an engagement at the end of this,
and I'm on my way, but this is a important week,
because I care deeply about what y'all think.
‐ Do you feel confident in the decisions you've made
up until this point? ‐ I do.
So there's two women left: Michelle and Rachael.
Michelle, you're gonna meet today,
and she was a late addition to the process,
but I‐‐I don't tell her that she was late.
I‐‐I tell her that she was right on time.
‐ Mm‐hmm. ‐ Just because of
how she uses her time, what we talk about,
what she's into, how our lives‐‐
pretty parallel, in terms of what she's experienced.
‐ It's exciting to see you so animated...
‐ Yeah. ‐ And happy and expressive,
and I can't wait to meet the girls, Matt.
There's nothing I want more for Matt
to find love from a woman that truly cares about him.
‐ I think Michelle's pulling up,
so I'ma go check on Michelle,
and I'll be back shortly.
‐ All right, babe.
♪ ♪
I think it's a long shot
that Matt would be engaged at the end of this,
but I am gonna give him my opinion,
and I'll trust him
to make the right decision, given that.
‐ Mm! ‐ [laughing]
It's snowing. ‐ It's snowing.
‐ [laughs] ‐ Are we in Minnesota?
‐ I know. I brought the weather to you.
[romantic music]
♪ ♪
I feel really good.
It was really exciting to wake up this morning
knowing that I get to meet Matt's family.
‐ Hey. ‐ Hi.
‐ Hey. ‐ [laughs]
How are you doing? ‐ Good.
‐ It's so nice to finally meet you.
‐ You, too, Michelle.
‐ Hi, John. How are you doing?
‐ Hi, Michelle. I'm good.
Nice to finally meet you. ‐ Nice to meet you as well.
Today I get to meet Matt's mom.
I know what she means to Matt,
how incredibly important she is.
I want his mom and his brother
to know that I am in love with Matt.
‐ [laughs] ‐ So we're here.
I want to make sure that they see that today.
[sighs] ‐ Well, you look so nice.
‐ Thank you.
Literally, from one of our first conversations,
we had about you. [laughs]
All good things, I promise. [laughter]
‐ I need a hanky, 'cause I know I'm gonna cry.
‐ The fact that I'm sitting in front of you guys,
I'm so excited.
‐ Tell me a little bit about yourself.
‐ Well, I'm an elementary school teacher,
and when I was thinking about taking this opportunity,
it was really scary for me
to put everything on hold back home,
but what I knew about Matt
and just kind of felt this pull and I'm like,
"I have to figure out what this is."
Like, he's a world‐changer, and that's...
‐ Mm. ‐ Exactly what I'm looking for.
‐ Michelle, would you like to chat?
‐ Yes. ‐ Okay.
What I'ma be looking for when it comes to Michelle
is not necessarily something that's spoken.
It's gonna be a vibe that I'll be able to pick up.
‐ How you feeling? ‐ I'm feeling good.
I don't like to sound negative or anything,
but I'ma just keep it real.
What type of qualities do you see in my brother
that make you feel as if, like,
he could be a possible long‐term partner in your life?
‐ I mean, the biggest thing
is that I know that I can trust him.
I know that he's a man of his word,
and so when he's saying something to me,
I know that he means it,
and that's, like, the biggest thing that's important to me.
‐ So trust. ‐ Yeah.
‐ How long ago
was the last serious relationship you were in?
‐ Yeah. So that ended in January.
It was something that should've ended before‐‐well before that,
just because it became unhealthy.
‐ Okay.
‐ Have you seen him
in, like, past relationships before?
‐ No, no, and that's why
this is, like, a new experience to me,
because he's kind of been, like,
sheltered with his feelings
and his personal relationships with women in the past, so...
‐ Mm‐hmm. ‐ This is new for me.
I was just observing the body language,
and just looking at my brother and looking at you.
Like, my brother legitimately is happy.
That's really all I care about,
and he seems like he's in a good place right now, so...
It seems like Matt has found somebody
that's, uh, a good match for him
just based off of, uh,
what I've experienced being around her.
♪ ♪
As long as my mom likes Michelle and it's like,
"Yeah, this is somebody I can see with my son"...
‐ All right.
‐ It's really the ultimate testament
whether this will end up being long‐term or not.
‐ It's nice to meet you.
‐ It's so nice to meet you too.
‐ I mean, I knew Matt was going on this experience
to meet somebody that he could fall in love with,
and it's really neat‐‐ you saw me crying up there.
‐ I know, I know. I can‐‐I can only imagine.
‐ When your family met Matt,
um, were you‐‐did you have a peace about that?
‐ Oh, I was so excited to introduce my family to him.
My mom was able to take one look at me.
She kind of choked up and said,
"Do you think that Matt's the one?"
and my answer was yes.
‐ Sounds like you had a very cohesive family life...
‐ Yeah. ‐ Which is a blessing,
because Matt, growing up, tended to choose friends
that had very strong families,
and I would always just... [sniffs]
[voice breaking] It was just a blessing,
'cause I felt like I couldn't offer him that.
[gentle music]
But to see that he's grown up
to be who he is...
♪ ♪
Makes me feel so proud,
because he has overcome a lot.
‐ For me, when I'm looking at Matt and how he grew up,
it's not seen as, like, this disadvantage.
I appreciate that about him,
because it makes him also grateful for other things
that, you know, people might tend to look past...
‐ Mm.
‐ And I am very much in love with your son,
and for me to feel this deeply about somebody so quick
is something that surprised me,
but it also doesn't scare me,
because I'm very confident in what I feel for him.
‐ For you to be open and honest with me
and tell me how you feel about my son...
‐ Mm‐hmm. ‐ It's an honor.
♪ ♪
[sniffs]
It's all I can say.
♪ ♪
I mean, I...
I have no control, really, over who Matt loves or who...
‐ Yeah. ‐ Who loves him.
I can only hope it's, you know,
someone that's gonna nurture him and love him,
and so...
and‐‐and, you know, talking to you, Michelle,
I see you're a sweetheart in how you are.
‐ You're gonna make me cry.
[both laughing]
The conversation with Matt's mom,
I feel like that‐‐
her opinion carries so much weight.
I really hope that I was able to leave his mom
with that feeling of, she knows he would be okay
if he chose me at the end of this.
‐ I can see how she made it to your final two.
‐ Yeah.
‐ Couldn't have been sweeter and easier to be around.
‐ Yeah. Yeah.
I, uh‐‐I‐‐I like her, you know? ‐ Mm.
‐ I told her‐‐uh, she knows that I'm falling for her...
‐ Mm‐hmm. ‐ And hopefully,
I can get to that point
where I'm ready to be engaged at the end of this.
‐ You're feeling comfortable in making those decisions,
and‐‐and that‐‐ that brings me joy.
I mean, that's what you want to raise your sons to do.
‐ It's because of what I've learned from you, though.
You know, I've seen how you've handled yourself
and how you've handled John and I,
and I'm always gonna lean on you
for that advice and counsel,
because you're someone I love and respect
and have gone through everything imaginable,
and it would be foolish not to‐‐to lean on you
for that counsel.
‐ I love seeing you happy... ‐ [chuckles]
‐ Because these are hard days, and there's a lot of things
that you could be sad about right now.
So much uncertainty,
and I come here, and you're happy,
and you might've found your wife.
I mean, what more could I want?
‐ I love you. ‐ I love you, babe.
I wouldn't have missed it for anything.
Excited.
‐ All right.
‐ Mm.
After Michelle and getting to know her
and spending time with her,
if things work out with Matt and Michelle,
I could totally see her being a part of the family.
‐ John put me in the hot seat.
‐ I knew that he was gonna grill you.
[laughter]
Today was a celebration.
Like, I see this day as a celebration,
celebrating where I'm at
in my relationship with Michelle,
and celebrating Michelle meeting my family.
I knew Michelle and my mom would hit it off.
This is how I wanted this time to go with my family,
and that's how it went.
Seeing how my conversation went with your mom and dad,
being a part of your family,
like, I wanted you to leave with that same feeling,
and it's not something that I can, like, reproduce.
It's just something that you've gotta feel,
and, um... ‐ Mm‐hmm.
I definitely feel that.
[romantic music]
♪ ♪
‐ Michelle continues to set the bar high
for what I'm looking for,
for what I expect in a relationship,
for what I'm looking for in a wife,
and I'm continuously pinching myself
that someone like Michelle is here.
Like, how has she not been swooped up?
‐ [exhales]
Oh, wait. Forgot something.
♪ ♪
[laughing]
Dang it.
[laughing] ‐ That was a head shot.
I'm extremely excited
about where we're at in our relationship,
and you never know how something's gonna go.
You just cross your fingers and pray...
♪ ♪
‐ Ahh!
[both laughing]
‐ And today couldn't have gone any better.
♪ ♪
[soft music]
♪ ♪
‐ Coming into today, I'm excited.
I had a great time with my family yesterday.
Having them meet Michelle was incredible,
and today, they get to meet Rachael,
which I'm also extremely excited about.
Rachael is someone who just brings out the best in me,
and it's evident‐‐just the way we spend our time together.
‐ Whoo! Hi. [laughs]
‐ Mm. Good to see you.
‐ Good to see you. I missed you.
‐ I missed you. ‐ How've you been?
‐ Good. ‐ Good?
‐ All right. ‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ Today's about sharing the things
that I love about Rachael with my family
and hopefully get their approval on it...
‐ Yeah, of course.
‐ And if that can't take place,
then we can't move forward.
Hopefully, uh,
you know, it goes as well as I hope it does.
You're gonna be meeting Mom, Patty...
‐ Okay. ‐ Or Ms. James,
whichever one you're more comfortable with.
‐ Mm‐hmm. ‐ And then John,
my older brother.
He might grill you... ‐ Okay.
‐ But give it back to him.
‐ Okay. ‐ Like, be yourself.
You're incredible,
and I want them to see who you are
and who I've fallen in love with.
‐ All right. Easier said than done.
‐ Right, exactly. ‐ [laughs]
I'm so nervous.
Today is the day
that I finally get to meet Matt's family,
and this is the last
really big step in our relationship
before that engagement.
Hi. ‐ Hi.
‐ Hey. ‐ How are you?
‐ Good. ‐ I'm Rachael.
‐ Rachael, I'm Patty. ‐ Yes.
Nice to meet you. ‐ Nice to meet you.
‐ Of course, I‐‐I want Matt's mom and Matt's brother
to like me and to, you know, accept me into their family.
If they didn't approve of our relationship,
that probably would be a deal‐breaker for him,
so it's so important to explain to them
how much I love Matt
and how much, you know, I really see a future with him
and how serious I am about the two of us.
‐ So how's your time been here? ‐ It's been really good.
I mean, Matt's made it so much easier than,
you know, um, it could've been,
but I just told myself, for this to really work,
I really do need to wear my heart on my sleeve,
and, I mean, it's gotten us to where we are today,
so I think it's worked.
‐ Rachael, how were you able to do that?
Is that your natural go‐to? ‐ No.
So that's what, I mean, being completely honest,
like, I've had trouble with that as well, in the past,
but I think, through it all, like, I've always trusted Matt,
and, like, the very first night,
he said the only way that this is really gonna work
is if we are completely open and honest with each other
through everything, even things that we don't necessarily
want to talk about, so... ‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ It's like that conversation we had before our overnight,
and like, how you're like, "Look, this week was hard."
‐ Mm‐hmm. ‐ Like, seeing everybody
after they had gotten back, and, like,
I just wanted you to know where we're at
so that you don't ask, like,
"What's off with Rachael today?"
‐ Mm‐hmm. ‐ And honestly, I loved that,
because it's something that I've never been able to do,
and it's something that I wouldn't have done,
because I'm like, "Ah, like, that's‐‐that's‐‐
I'm not gonna worry about it." ‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ And then it becomes an issue, and it's like,
if we would've just addressed it,
then we could've nipped it in the bud.
‐ Yeah.
‐ I definitely am seeing a new side to my brother
that I haven't seen before,
and I'm happy that he's reached a point in his life
where he feels comfortable enough
to, um,
put his feelings and emotions on the table.
Would you like to chat, Rachael?
‐ Of course. ‐ Okay.
I definitely see a connection
between my brother and Rachael,
and, um, I'm just looking forward to getting to know her
and getting to hear a little bit about her background.
How many serious relationships would you say
that you've been in throughout your life?
‐ I really haven't been in a lot.
Um, I had one serious boyfriend in high school,
and then I had one serious boyfriend
towards the end of college, and that's it.
‐ Have you ever experienced true love before?
‐ I've loved people, and I've cared for people,
but I don't think I've ever been truly, like,
in love with someone
and to where I can see my future with him,
and this probably sounds crazy,
but I just feel like he is
the other half of me that I've needed.
‐ What qualities do you see in Matt...
[clears throat]
That you could possibly see in a husband
or a long‐term partner?
‐ He makes me feel really safe.
He makes me feel comfortable.
He is so funny and goofy,
but then, at the other side of things,
he's really understanding.
He's a great listener.
You know, every time I see him, I can't breathe,
and my heart's racing, and I get butterflies,
and I really do picture this future with him.
‐ So what do you think so far?
‐ She's cute, and I like that she feels free
to be herself around you,
and I think you feel like you can be yourself around her.
‐ I do, yeah,
and it's something I've felt for a long time.
You know, like, it just flows when I'm with Rachael.
Like, the time flies, and we have fun together...
‐ Mm. ‐ And I know that there's
a lot more to a relationship than that,
but we've talked about a lot of other things
that factor into what you're looking for in a mate,
and just in the little things and how she carries herself.
It's‐‐it's gotta be foreshadowing
of how she's gonna handle more important things
as they come up.
‐ And that, you know‐‐ that's important.
‐ Yeah.
‐ I know it's important for Matt
to have our approval‐‐
the family's approval, my approval and his brother‐‐
and, for me, engagement is something
not to just take a gamble at.
You wanna know, is it enduring love,
because feelings come and go, and so I am very curious
what Rachael has to say and thinks
and get to know her.
So you feel like you're at a point in your life
where you could become engaged...
‐ Yeah. Mm‐hmm.
‐ Or see a future with somebody?
‐ Mm‐hmm.
So I think, as I've gotten older,
I've realized, like, the thing that's gonna fulfill my life
and the thing that's gonna really put meaning into it
is love,
and throughout this entire experience,
I told Matt, you know,
I think we were just blessed to be given this opportunity.
‐ So was there a time that it became apparent
that you were falling in love with Matt, Rachael?
‐ I think it was just little things,
you know, throughout the process
that I was just, like, in awe of him with everything,
and, um, I think, um,
we finally had that first one‐on‐one date together,
and just that feeling that we were sharing together
and the way that he made me feel throughout the entire day.
‐ Right. ‐ And, um...
I think I had just known before that.
I mean, truly, from the first night,
I was like,
"I'm going to really fall in love with this man."
I already‐‐I just knew it,
because my faith with God
is, like, a very personal, important thing,
and he came in, and the first thing that he did
was pray over us.
I just... I'm gonna get emotional.
‐ [whispering] I know. Me too.
‐ Sorry. [both laughing]
I, um...
like, truly felt it in my soul,
that, um,
you know, this is where I was supposed to be,
and I really thought that Matt‐‐
you know, I was supposed to be here for Matt
and that this was God's way
of, you know, putting us together,
because... [sniffs]
You know, I don't know how I would've met him
outside of this, you know? ‐ Right. Right.
Rachael, my heart resonates,
because I hear you.
‐ Mm. ‐ [sniffs]
[gentle music]
Um...
[sniffs]
♪ ♪
And your feelings and where they come from...
‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ It means a lot to me.
‐ I mean, I just wanna let you know
that I really, really truly do love your son.
I think Matt is the most incredible man
that I've ever met in my entire life.
[sniffs]
Matt is so perfect in my eyes.
Like, he's everything that I...
[sighs]
Have hoped for, prayed for, dreamt about‐‐everything.
But really, it was... ‐ Rachael.
‐ So nice getting to meet you...
‐ Thank you. ‐ And talk to you.
I really hope that Matt's brother and Matt's mom
did see where my heart is at today.
♪ ♪
I really feel like I can, like,
begin my‐‐my life now.
[laughs softly]
God, I love him,
too‐‐too much, obviously.
[laughing, crying]
‐ Did my brother grill you?
‐ Totally. ‐ [laughing]
‐ No, I'm just kidding.
It wasn't bad. ‐ It wasn't bad?
‐ No. Um... ‐ Okay, good.
‐ [sighs]
[sweeping music]
‐ I feel great
knowing that my family liked Rachael a lot.
I feel like today's been
everything I would've thought it would be and more.
♪ ♪
‐ I'll miss you. ‐ Yes.
I'm ready for an engagement and a marriage,
and it's those things where I'm just
feeling grateful and just humbled
that my family's here
so that I can make the right decision.
♪ ♪
[soft music]
♪ ♪
‐ These last two days were incredible,
and I'm so stoked that my family was out here
to meet Michelle and Rachael,
two women I'm falling for that I think could be my wife,
and I think it went great.
My brother and my mom,
they know me better than anybody,
and they know that I think that marriage
is the most important commitment
you could make to somebody.
♪ ♪
What up? ‐ Hey.
Catching up on our opinions.
‐ But having these feelings and falling in love,
this is all new to me,
so I'm looking for clarity or any validation from them,
because I've got the best two women for me
in front of me.
‐ It's fun to come into your world
and‐‐and meet your prospects.
[laughter]
My future daughter‐in‐law.
‐ Future daughter‐in‐law. ‐ [laughs]
They are both amazing.
I mean, I loved talking to 'em. ‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ I have nothing but warmth in my heart
for those two girls. ‐ Yeah.
Going into these next few days,
I am gonna be in prayer, you know,
'cause that's the only thing that gives me peace
in this process, and it's the only time
that I feel like I'm in control.
‐ So with that being said... ‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ We're approaching the end here...
‐ Mm‐hmm. ‐ And so you've got
one more date with each of the girls, right?
‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ Could you see yourself
getting there with one of these girls?
‐ Yeah, that's why I came here, you know?
I've been open‐minded this entire journey, you know?
I've gotten to this point where there's two women
that I have these strong feelings for
and who I'm falling in love with, s‐‐you know,
and it's like, I have no idea what I'ma do,
but I've gotta make a...
[scoffs] A life‐changing decision.
‐ Going into these last final days,
are there any concerns you have?
‐ Um, yeah.
I've been in relationships
where I told women that I loved them before,
in high school and college,
and I thought I meant it, you know, until I got here
and I started having conversations
and sharing different parts of my life with these women
that I never shared with anybody, you know,
and love changed for me.
Like, what I think love is now
is different than what I thought it was,
and‐‐and not having ever experienced
what I'm experiencing, you know,
this decision's gonna be so hard,
because I‐‐I have things about Michelle
that I could see her being an incredible wife,
and then the same with Rachael.
‐ Now I feel like we are really talking
about some important things,
and, you know, when you say you love somebody,
does that mean, "Oh, automatically,
I'm gonna become engaged," or does that mean,
"I feel comfortable enough to see where this is gonna go
down the road"?
[tense music]
You know, I know you don't take love lightly
and saying things lightly, because what do you want?
Good communication. Trust.
I mean, I know they both love you,
but feelings come and go,
and to tell somebody you love them is big,
because that opens their hearts up.
♪ ♪
And just speaking from experience,
there's nothing like being in love.
It makes life wonderful.
But...
you know, people fall in and out of love,
and love is not the end‐all, be‐all.
♪ ♪
‐ Matt, you already know
I support you in everything that you do,
so whatever you decide to do, I'm on board,
but don't feel like
you have to jump into making a decision
where you're not ready.
[somber music]
♪ ♪
‐ [quietly] Yeah.
♪ ♪
‐ My mom, she's reiterating
that, you know, love isn't something
that's gonna carry you through a marriage or an engagement,
and it just takes me back to a very dark place,
and I think about my dad not being ready,
and I think about how that hurt my mom
and destroyed our family.
Now I'm having this realization
for the first time,
and I'm just thinking to myself, "Am I ready?"
Am I ready to make that
everlasting oath and commitment,
or just doing something that...
♪ ♪
I'm not ready for?
‐ Matt, what you've got ahead of you,
it's not gonna be easy,
because you've got people's emotions at stake.
It's not gonna be easy,
but I‐‐I know you're gonna do it well,
do the right things, and I love you so much,
and I want the best for you, and, um,
I'll be praying for you too.
‐ I'm about to make one of the most
important decisions of my life,
and the assurance I was looking for in those conversations
was replaced with some doubt.
‐ Love you, Mom. ‐ Love you too.
‐ This is the final week, and here I am,
just questioning, am I ready?
Because rushing into something that I'm not ready for
is not something that I'm willing to be a part of,
and now I don't know what I'ma do.
[sighs] I don't know.
♪ ♪
[tense music]
[bird calling]
♪ ♪
‐ The way that I thought about this week
and how I envisioned it going
was me sharing a special part of my life
with my mom and my brother,
being able to tell them where I was at with Michelle,
where I was at with Rachael,
and why I could see a life with them...
♪ ♪
But I'm flashing back to the conversation I had
with my mom and my brother, and she's just like,
"I just want you to be careful...
because feelings can fade."
♪ ♪
It's just having me take a step back,
and I'm just thinking to myself, "Am I ready?"
Like, what am I looking for in this?
[knock on door]
So I need to talk to somebody
who's seen this process play out,
for better or for worse.
♪ ♪
‐ Hey, man. ‐ What's up?
‐ How you doing? ‐ Doing well.
♪ ♪
I'm about to make
one of the most important decisions of my life.
‐ [sighs]
So I hear you wanted to chat.
‐ Yeah. ‐ What is going on?
‐ [sighs]
Um...
I'm just thinking about where I'm at.
It's the last week,
and I'm just leaving that conversation
with my mom and my brother.
Uh...
Introducing them to Michelle and Rachael,
I was so excited, you know?
It's not something I've done in any relationship
since, like, high school is bring someone back home,
because it's been something that I've guarded myself from,
and after Michelle's left, after Rachael's left,
my mom kind of starts grilling me a little bit.
She's like, you know, like,
"Are you sure this is, like, something you're ready for?"
Um...
"You know that feelings come and go, Matt,"
and then I think about the look on my mom's face
when she was saying that, you know?
I could almost see her tearing up a little bit
thinking about how feelings faded with her and my dad.
‐ Yeah.
‐ And I'm just, like, thinking about where I'm at
with Michelle and Rachael
and how serious of a commitment I know that this is.
That commitment, to me, is everlasting...
[sighs]
And the more information
that I'm learning about myself and my family
and my mom and‐‐and what it takes
to have a healthy relationship,
the more I'm starting to pump the brakes on,
is it something that I'm ready to commit to right now?
[sighs]
‐ That's a lot.
That is a lot to unpack.
This is not the guy I‐‐I was talking to a week ago.
Two weeks ago.
There was a time when you believed in
what you were saying about, "My wife's in this room,"
and, "I'm‐‐yeah, I plan on‐‐ yeah, I wanna get engaged,"
and, "That's how I want this to end."
Like... ‐ Yes.
That's how I felt, and that's still how I feel,
because they have
all the qualities that I'm looking for, you know?
But it‐‐you're silly
if, when you don't get new information
and you have a new view and perspective on something,
if you don't have a change of heart, and‐‐
‐ And that‐‐and that perspective is Mom says,
"Love changes. Love wilts. Feelings change."
Like, "Don't worry, love ends"?
I mean, what kind of greeting card is that?
‐ [laughs]
‐ I mean... ‐ Not a top seller.
‐ Yeah.
‐ But she knows that I'm taking this serious,
and she cares about me,
and the only reason she would bring that to my attention
is because she doesn't want me to make the same mistake.
‐ Mm‐hmm. ‐ And no other reason,
because she loved Rachael, and she loved Michelle.
‐ Yeah. ‐ Like, those are two women
that I'd be lucky to be with, and she knows that,
and I realize that, and I'm like,
"I'm not gonna mess this up on account of
doing something to make them happy"
when everything I've done up until this point
is to do something that's right
and that I have a strong conviction for.
‐ What are you scared of the most?
‐ Um...
I just wanna make the right decision...
And the right decision for me is taking my time
and not doing something because that's what I should do.
It's because it's what I need to do, you know?
‐ So what you're saying is,
you don't wanna get engaged.
You don't wanna propose to anybody at the end of this.
‐ I know that the easy thing for me to do
would be to tell Rachael or Michelle
what they wanna hear, and it's, "I'm ready,"
and, you know, go through with this whole process
and get down on one knee
and do something that I'm not ready for,
and then what happens?
It sets our relationship course
for something that neither one of us are ready for, and...
I don't know.
I've never been in a relationship like this
where I've been this honest.
If I want what's best for my relationship with Michelle
or my relationship with Rachael,
then it's to do exactly what I'm doing
and have this conversation with you
and‐‐and dig deep into myself and make sure that
I'm the man that I wanna be for them in our relationship
regardless of if that's
three days from now or three years from now.
‐ So we have a few days left.
I'm curious; in your mind now, where do we go from here?
How does this play out for you?
‐ I've been nothing but real with Rachael and Michelle,
and I owe it to them to continue to do that,
so I just wanna move forward this week
and continue to stay open‐minded
about everything, you know?
‐ Okay. We'll go from there.
‐ It was good for me to talk it out with Chris.
Thank you.
‐ All right, man, I'll get out of your hair.
[soft music]
‐ Michelle is incredible,
Rachael's incredible,
but knowing that we're three days away
from an engagement, I don't want there to be
any doubt in my mind going into that.
[dramatic music]
Am I ready?
Can I get there?
I'm about to make
one of the most important decisions of my life,
and I really hope I can figure it out.
I'm just going over in my head, "What's the right thing to do?"
What's the right thing to do?
♪ ♪
‐ It's about to get uncomfortable.
‐ Later tonight, Emmanuel Acho dives into
the shocking conclusion to Matt's journey.
‐ Where do things stand now?
‐ There's a lot of things watching back
I wish I could've done differently.
[soft music]
♪ ♪
[bird calling]
‐ Knowing that we're two days away from an engagement,
it's all that's been consuming my mind.
I've thought about it day and night,
what that moment will look like
and who it will be with,
and, you know, I'm not certain.
I'm not certain if that's something that I'm ready for.
♪ ♪
Regardless of how I'm feeling right now,
I still have time,
and I get to spend that time today with Michelle,
and hopefully it puts to rest
anything that I may have doubts about.
‐ How are you?
‐ I'm doing well. Good to see you.
♪ ♪
both: Mm.
[gentle music]
♪ ♪
‐ How are you doing? ‐ Good.
It was nice waking up
knowing that I get to see one of my favorite people.
‐ Do you have any idea what we're gonna do today?
‐ No. [laughs]
‐ I think that you're gonna like this.
Um, I'm a little nervous, but in a good way.
‐ Okay.
‐ You ready? ‐ Yeah, I'm ready.
‐ All right, let's go. ‐ [laughs]
♪ ♪
Today is the last day that I get to spend with Matt
before the proposal,
when I finally get that answer of if he's that person
I'm gonna spend the rest of my life with.
I'm ready to do the real world with Matt.
and that's what, like, makes me warm and fuzzy inside.
‐ You have to close your eyes.
‐ Okay. ‐ Big step.
All right, you have to keep‐‐
‐ Are you gonna tell me where to walk?
‐ Yeah, I'm gonna tell you where to walk.
Keep your eyes closed.
It's paramount.
‐ [laughs]
I really do feel like Matt's my person,
and so the fact that I get to spend time with him
and talk with him and laugh with him
is exactly how I wanna spend today and every day.
Am I close to something?
‐ One more step.
All right. You can open your eyes.
That's where we're headed.
‐ Is that a heart?
‐ Yeah, it's a heart.
‐ Oh, that's so cute!
‐ How dope is that?
But the only way to get there is, uh...
‐ Oh, my God.
‐ Um...is down the side of the building.
[dramatic music]
We're gonna rappel down the side of the building.
‐ [laughing] Dang it.
‐ [laughing]
♪ ♪
Nervous?
‐ Yes. ‐ [laughs]
‐ Yes. For sure.
As nerve‐racking as this can be,
love does require a leap of faith‐‐
as long as this leap of faith
is connected to a rope and a harness,
a safe rope and harness that's gonna hold me.
Oh, my gosh.
I'm scared. [laughs]
‐ So go ahead and step up.
Come to this side. It's close to the edge.
Be careful, watch it. Sorta press down on...
‐ Oh‐ho‐ho‐ho... ‐ [laughs]
‐ Don't look. You just can't look at it.
‐ Yeah. ‐ Where am I supposed to look?
‐ At me. ‐ Okay.
‐ Yeah. There you go.
‐ I'm a little nervous right now.
I'm not gonna lie.
A lot of what makes a relationship work
is being able to take that leap of faith with somebody,
and I'm just praying
that we make it to the bottom all right.
All right. You ready?
‐ Okay.
‐ All right. I'm going for it.
♪ ♪
‐ No, no, no, no. ‐ Oh, God!
♪ ♪
‐ Don't pull the lever.
Bring your head up towards me...
‐ Yep.
‐ And get your feet down below you.
‐ Feet down below me.
There we go.
‐ Did you literally just lean back?
‐ I just leaned back, and I didn't look down,
'cause if I looked down, I probably would've puked.
‐ Yep, that's where I'm at.
‐ [laughs] I'll help you. ‐ Okay.
[exhaling]
Okay.
‐ You got it. You got it.
You're good. ‐ There you go.
Oh, [bleep]!
‐ [laughs]
‐ I tried to help! ‐ Ooh!
Rappelling down this building kind of symbolizes
the risk that I've taken to be here,
but I'm already in love with Matt,
so I don't need to fall to become more in love.
Okay. [exhales]
‐ Straighten your legs out,
and we'll take a little step by step.
So like this. Look.
See?
You gotta really pull on it.
There you go. ‐ Oh.
Okay. ‐ Yeah.
‐ All right. Let's do this.
‐ There you go.
‐ Ooh! ‐ Whoo.
Michelle and I are coaching each other up,
and she's taking that fear
and she's turning it into that courage
that I always see in her.
♪ ♪
‐ Whew!
[both laughing]
‐ Oh! We're good.
Let me get a kiss.
♪ ♪
‐ Rappelling off of this building
is scary, terrifying‐‐ everything.
‐ Okay, focus. ‐ Okay.
But if I were to panic,
I know Matt would be right there
to kind of help me through it.
‐ One foot on and then one foot off.
‐ And so there's, like, this level of comfort
that's helping me get to the bottom.
‐ There you go.
And then put that other‐‐ there you go.
‐ Okay. ‐ Good job.
Like, I'm just watching Michelle just, like,
gracefully just prance down the side of the building...
Jump into it.
Ey! ‐ [exhales sharply]
‐ And in this moment, I'm just like...
[whistles]
‐ Ready? ‐ Yep. [exhales]
[soft music]
‐ Whoo!
‐ You're a pro now.
♪ ♪
‐ Whoo!
‐ You crushed it.
You know, I‐‐I've had a lot on my mind.
I'm still processing
the conversations I had with my family,
and I'm honestly still evaluating where I'm at,
but what better way to spend time with someone
than to fully put your trust in them,
them fully put their trust in you,
and take on something
that neither one of us has ever done.
It was unreal.
We made it.
‐ We did it.
It did not seem this windy up there.
‐ [stammers] For who?
I was frickin' blowing against the side of the building.
‐ [laughs] ‐ I was worried for a second.
‐ The wind was blowing you? ‐ Yes.
‐ The 6'5" man? [both laugh]
‐ It's strong.
‐ It is very tall, though.
‐ How did your conversations go with my fam?
‐ I feel really good about it.
‐ How'd it go with Mom?
‐ Your mom is just amazing.
I mean, I love how she wants you to find a person
who is gonna stick by your side,
because that's not something that she had...
‐ Yeah.
‐ And she was very open about that,
and not everyone's good at talking
about their feelings and those things,
and so, like, for her to come in
and be so, like, vulnerable about what she felt
was really important for me to hear,
and, yeah, I love‐‐ I loved every second of it.
‐ [chuckles]
They had nothing but good things to say,
and I knew they would, so I wasn't worried at all.
‐ Mm‐hmm. ‐ It's like, for me,
it was more so just wanting them
to see what I've been up to,
and who I've met... ‐ Yeah.
‐ And who could potentially be a part of our family, you know?
‐ It's been such a fun‐‐
like, this has been absolutely amazing.
I had no idea that,
like, we would be sitting here at the end of this.
That's what I wanted,
and that's what I felt could potentially happen,
but to, like, actually have‐‐
like, me living in the moment of it happening now
is kind of surreal, but...
[soft music]
It just feels like the right place to be right now.
♪ ♪
Do you feel like‐‐I mean,
do you feel like you are able to get to a spot emotionally
where you need to be?
‐ That's‐‐that's a lot
of what I've been thinking about lately.
You know, it's something that, uh,
I talked to my family about,
and that's why I wanted to talk to my dad, you know?
‐ Yeah. ‐ Uh, having him here
and just addressing things
that have held me back in the past...
‐ Yeah.
‐ And, um, it was...
it was not easy‐‐
that conversation or my mom's conversation,
because they've both experienced a bunch of pain,
and it's definitely having me
thinking about everything that I need to consider
so that I can make the best decision for us, you know?
‐ Yeah. ‐ You know.
Today was great,
but everything's sinking in,
the gravity of what's coming up
and how I'm really feeling in this moment.
♪ ♪
It just hurts my chest to even talk about it,
because Michelle's pouring her heart out to me
and telling me how assured she is,
and I don't know where I'm at.
What do you say we get out of here?
‐ Yeah. Let's go.
♪ ♪
Tonight's gonna be the last time I see Michelle
until the Final Rose, and I plan on using that time
to get to the bottom of where this emotion's coming from
and if this is the right thing for me.
♪ ♪
[soft music]
♪ ♪
‐ I've kind of been in my head all day.
Tried to block it out as much as I could
during my time with Michelle today,
but I'm two days away
from making the biggest decision of my life.
You know, I wish I could sit here and say that,
"All right, it's done. I've got it figured out."
♪ ♪
I don't.
♪ ♪
I wanna make sure that I can get there,
'cause I don't know if I can at this point.
I don't know how this conversation's gonna go,
but I just wanna lay everything out there
tonight with Michelle,
just put all the cards on the table
and see where they fall.
[gentle music]
‐ My feelings for Matt are incredibly strong.
Like, I think about, like, the roots of our relationship,
like, how deep they would grow
with unlimited access to Matt James.
[laughs]
I am genuinely happy.
Matt is my person,
and we are gonna spend a life together.
‐ [sighs]
‐ That's what I truly want.
[knock at door]
This evening is the last time I get to spend with Matt
before the proposal.
Hey, there.
♪ ♪
Nice to see you.
‐ Good to see you too. ‐ [laughs]
And so to be here right now, I feel like
it's so close to happening.
Today was amazing. ‐ Yeah.
‐ I had no idea when I woke up in the morning
that I'd be rappelling down a building.
‐ I was nervous for us, 'cause I had never done it.
‐ Yeah.
‐ But I was trying to keep it together.
‐ You did.
You don't really show when you're nervous.
‐ No, I was‐‐I was just glad we made it to the bottom.
‐ I would do it again. ‐ You would do it again?
‐ Yeah, I would do it again.
‐ I'm glad that you enjoyed it. ‐ I did.
I wouldn't mind more adventures like that,
but, um, I came into this whole experience
looking for a teammate,
and I was surprised with almost how, like,
quick my emotions for you started to grow.
The fact that now I'm sitting here
and I am in love with you,
and I cannot imagine
having anyone else as my teammate at this point.
Like, it's you.
It's you that I want,
and it's really hard to honestly picture
leaving here without you,
and so I do have a little something for you.
‐ [laughs]
Uh‐oh. Okay.
[both laughing]
I don't know what that means.
Not at all. ‐ So...
Okay.
[soft music]
You can open your eyes, because it's wrapped.
‐ Oh. ‐ Here.
‐ Okay.
♪ ♪
‐ When I came here,
why I put on hold changing the world
was because I wanted a partner in crime to do that with me,
and you are somebody who I see fit for that,
and so what better way to give us a team name...
‐ World‐Changing Warriors.
‐ Of "World‐Changing Warriors"?
♪ ♪
That brings us to gift number two.
‐ [chuckles]
♪ ♪
‐ So it wouldn't be fair to give you a jersey
and not also have a teammate,
so I decided to, um,
look into the future a little bit
‐ Michelle's telling me how much she loves me
and how she sees a life with me,
and I'm holding up our jerseys, you know, Mr. and Mrs. James,
and right now, in this moment,
I have doubt about our relationship.
I feel terrible.
I didn't know this is how it'd feel.
I don't wanna tell her anything
that's gonna break her heart,
but when you care about somebody,
you're honest with them,
and I've just gotta let her know.
♪ ♪
I never thought that I would have feelings like I do
at this point and through this journey,
and...it's a lot, you know?
[laughs softly] ‐ That it is.
[soft tense music]
♪ ♪
What are you thinking about?
♪ ♪
‐ Um, I don't know.
‐ Talk to me. I see those wheels turning.
‐ Uh, I was just‐‐ was thinking about‐‐
I had‐‐I didn't sleep at all last night, just knowing
what's gotta happen in the next two days, you know?
It's like everything's becoming real for me...
‐ Yeah.
‐ And I'm sitting there at home last night
just thinking about these next steps,
and I'm just, like...
having‐‐having doubts...
♪ ♪
And I shouldn't be having any doubts about that.
We're like a day or two away, you know?
♪ ♪
This is the first time
that I've felt any type of thing
outside of wanting to be with you forever...
♪ ♪
And having‐‐
just having any doubt in my mind
at this point, for me, is just like...
scary.
♪ ♪
I've been pushing through that feeling today
and trying to get there because of how I feel about you
and what I know life could look like with you...
♪ ♪
And...
I think the easy thing for me to do
would be to tell you what you wanna hear.
‐ No, I'm‐‐that's not what I'm looking for.
♪ ♪
[sighs]
[sniffs]
I just want, like, clarity
on what this, like, actually is.
Like, it...
Or, like, how you're actually feeling.
Am I supposed to fight for you?
Am I not supposed to fight for you?
Tell me where you're at, actually.
‐ I don't think I can get there with you.
[somber music]
‐ [sniffles, sighs]
♪ ♪
[sniffs]
It's hard to feel like you're on‐‐
like you have this, like, connection with somebody,
and then...
with a flip of a switch...
[sniffs]
It's, like, gone.
♪ ♪
‐ [whispers] Michelle...
♪ ♪
I don't want you to think it was a flip of a switch.
‐ [sniffs]
I put it all out on the table. That's all I can do.
♪ ♪
[sniffs]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[crying]
♪ ♪
‐ I'm sorry.
♪ ♪
[sighs]
♪ ♪
‐ [sighs]
‐ [sniffles]
‐ [crying]
♪ ♪
[sighs]
♪ ♪
[crickets chirping]
‐ [crying]
[soft music]
♪ ♪
[somber music]
[sighs, sniffs]
♪ ♪
My objective tonight wasn't to hurt Michelle.
♪ ♪
It's to be honest with her, and I owe her that...
[crying]
‐ [crying]
‐ But it's not a good feeling.
It's not a good feeling
to put somebody through that heartache,
especially for somebody that you really care about,
and I really care about Michelle...
♪ ♪
[sighs]
But here I am, just questioning,
was saying goodbye to her tonight
the right thing to do?
I don't know.
Now I feel like...
I'm just trying to stay afloat.
♪ ♪
‐ Hey, dude.
♪ ♪
You can keep a seat. I'll sit with you.
We can chill.
[groans] Ooh.
You okay? ‐ No.
[laughs] ‐ [sighs]
‐ [sniffs] No, I'm not.
‐ That was brutal.
I'm sorry, Matt.
I'm very sorry.
‐ [sighs]
[crickets chirping]
‐ Tough to let a incredible woman like that walk away.
‐ Yeah.
It's‐‐it's‐‐that's the hardest part, you know?
It's like you know it's something
that you have to do... ‐ Yeah.
‐ And I've never felt this way about anybody,
and it's been a long time since I've cried.
‐ Yeah. ‐ [sighs]
‐ Part of you loved her.
‐ Yeah.
But I wasn't in love with her.
[sighs]
‐ I know this had to do with Michelle,
but a lot of this is about you
and what you're going through and things you've realized.
‐ Yeah.
[breathes deeply]
‐ This is about not knowing where this is going.
‐ Yeah.
The look I can't take out of my brain
that I saw on my mom's face
when she said that feelings fade
and what that meant to me and what it means to my mom
and what it's meant for her in her life
and my brother's life and my life, you know?
It's like, that scares me.
‐ What your mom said shook you to the core.
‐ Yeah.
Seeing that in my dad and mom's relationship,
you know, it's like, they loved each other,
and it faded for them,
and I saw how it affected my mom, you know?
‐ Yeah. ‐ And I saw how my dad
still hasn't taken accountability for it.
You know, it's like, he's someone
who's never gonna be ready for marriage,
it looks like...
And I can't speak for Rachael,
but I refuse to‐‐to put her through
what my mom went through, you know?
The last thing I wanna do is...
Bring someone in‐‐ into a situation
that I'm not ready for.
[sighs]
Yeah.
[sighs]
[solemn music]
♪ ♪
Now what? What am I gonna tell Rachael?
"Hey, I‐‐I sent Michelle home.
I'm ready to‐‐to be engaged and propose to you."
That‐‐that's not where I'm at, and we're a day out.
I mean, one day away from that...
♪ ♪
And I don't have the clarity
that I thought I would have right now
and that I need to make that decision.
[sighs]
♪ ♪
And rushing into something that I'm not ready for
is not something that I'm willing to‐‐
to make the same mistake as my‐‐my dad did.
♪ ♪
I didn't know this is how it'd feel.
It's scary...
♪ ♪
And at this point...
I don't know how to go on.
How do you go on from there?
♪ ♪
[sighs]
To be honest with you, Chris...
[sighs]
I just need some time.
‐ Well, I understand.
‐ [sighs]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
I feel like everything
that I thought I was working towards
is starting to crumble,
and I don't‐‐ I don't know what I'ma do.
[breathes shakily]
♪ ♪
‐ He didn't wanna see me today.
I was so not expecting that.
‐ And later,
all of your questions will be answered
on "After the Final Rose."
‐ How hard is this on you?
‐ [sighs]
[gentle music]
♪ ♪
[birds chirping]
♪ ♪
‐ Today's my last date with Matt.
I'm so excited.
I'm very excited.
I do feel confident going into today,
and I just feel really good,
because I do feel like he's my person.
I'm, like, overwhelmingly, madly in love with him.
Like, wow.
Like...seriously overwhelming.
I really see every single day of my life with him.
I'm just like,
"Can we just start our life together already?"
[knocking at door]
Whatever we're doing, I just can't wait to see him.
[laughs]
♪ ♪
Hi! ‐ Hi.
‐ What's up?
‐ Um, sorry to barge in unannounced.
I know you are getting ready for your date.
‐ Okay. Yeah. That's okay. ‐ Um...
[tense music]
‐ You have me nervous.
‐ Well, um...
I'll just be honest. I was with Matt last night.
♪ ♪
He was emotional
and, to be honest, lost,
and the last thing he said to me
was, "I need some time."
♪ ♪
And I'm sorry I'm the one to tell you this,
but, unfortunately, there's not gonna be a date today.
♪ ♪
We're gonna have to respect that
and just give him some time. ‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ We will let you know as soon as possible
what's up next.
All right. I'll talk to you soon.
‐ Okay. Bye.
[sighs]
[somber music]
♪ ♪
[sighs]
♪ ♪
I just feel hurt and confused.
♪ ♪
Like, I was so not expecting that,
to where he didn't even wanna see me today.
♪ ♪
I feel pretty in the dark right now.
♪ ♪
He's never expressed any kind of worry
or concern or confusion, not once.
[sniffs]
It's, like, very blindsiding.
♪ ♪
Like, what happened to just bail on me like that?
[sniffs]
♪ ♪
Loving Matt's been pretty easy.
Maybe that's why I feel so hurt right now,
'cause this is the only time he's made it harder.
♪ ♪
Like, obviously, he's having doubts.
♪ ♪
I don't even know what I would say to him tomorrow.
It just hurts.
[crying]
[sighs]
[birds chirping]
[solemn music]
‐ [sighs]
This morning, I'm just coming to terms
with the uncertainty that I have
around a proposal right now.
We're a day away.
[sighs]
At the beginning of this journey,
I envisioned and imagined
my spirits being different in this moment, you know?
♪ ♪
I need time to really think
about where I'm at with Rachael.
What is our relationship built on?
Is love enough to sustain a relationship?
♪ ♪
I don't know,
and that's what I'm battling with right now,
and I'm thinking about what it means to be a man
and what marriage means
and what it means to be a husband
and take accountability for things...
[sighs]
And now I'm questioning if I'm there.
I don't know what to think or what to do.
Hi. ‐ [chuckles]
‐ How you doing? ‐ I'm Neil Lane.
‐ And I'm giving it time, and my head's still jacked up.
‐ Oh, I'm sitting there? ‐ Yes, sir.
‐ Ah. [sniffs]
Well, Matt...
‐ Maybe I need to hold that ring in my hand.
♪ ♪
‐ How we feeling?
‐ I'm all over the place, to be honest with you.
I just know how big of a commitment this is,
and I know what that commitment means to somebody.
‐ It is a commitment. ‐ Right.
‐ It is a commitment.
How many people really understand that?
They get blinded by love,
and they get into something they're really not ready for.
The work... ‐ Yeah.
‐ Love is not easy.
Commitment's not easy. ‐ Yeah.
‐ There's one girl left? ‐ Yes.
‐ And that's... both: Rachael.
‐ Well, let me ask you something.
Is Rachael expecting a proposal?
‐ What she's expecting out of me at this point is honesty,
and that's all I've given her through this process
is my word, and in doing something that...
I honestly don't know if I'm ready for
would be...a lie.
‐ It's extraordinary that you have the clarity
to think about what you're doing.
For me, that's everything.
Whatever you decide and whatever you feel
is the right feeling.
I'm not here to make you get a ring.
I‐‐I never want to make someone get any ring,
but we can look at rings if you want to,
and we'll take it from there.
‐ Yeah.
[soft music]
♪ ♪
Wow.
I've never looked at actual...
‐ You've never had a ring in your...
‐ Never‐‐no. Can I touch it?
‐ Yeah, it's‐‐ it's not gonna break.
This little jewel represents this, your heart.
It connects two people.
♪ ♪
‐ The reason I came out here was to find my wife.
‐ That is a radiant cut.
♪ ♪
‐ I'm just envisioning what that day looks like,
that day that you commit your life to theirs,
and they commit their life to yours,
and that promise that you're making,
and I'm thinking about
what that day looks like for Rachael.
‐ This is a pear shape.
Pear shapes are my favorite.
When I was a little kid, my mom had a pear shape.
A very romantic stone.
‐ It is incredible.
♪ ♪
This might be my favorite so far.
‐ I love the ring.
♪ ♪
‐ Yeah. This is the one.
♪ ♪
I wanna hold onto this.
‐ Yeah, I think that's a good‐‐ you're gonna hold onto it.
‐ I'm gonna hold onto this. ‐ You're gonna hold onto it.
[solemn music]
You know, I‐‐I did pick out a ring.
‐ All the best. ‐ Thank you, Neil.
‐ Bye. ‐ Bye.
♪ ♪
There's a lot of weight in this.
♪ ♪
This is more than just a ring.
To me, it represents...
what my father couldn't give to my mother‐‐
represents a lot of broken promises.
And if I put this ring on Rachael's finger,
I would never want it to come off.
Tomorrow's a big day,
and I'm just thinking to myself, "Am I ready?"
♪ ♪
I don't know.
♪ ♪
[dramatic music]
‐ Later tonight on "After the Final Rose"...
‐ We're gonna meet our new Bachelorette,
and if you think you know who it is,
get ready for a curveball, Bachelor Nation.
♪ ♪
[soft music]
♪ ♪
‐ Waking up this morning, I feel...
very scared and very confused and upset.
♪ ♪
[sniffs]
I don't know what else I can take at this point.
Yesterday was the hardest day that I can remember.
♪ ♪
I was, you know, really looking forward to the day
and looking forward to... [sniffs]
Getting to see Matt,
and then having that ripped out from underneath me,
that was just hard by itself,
but I think the hardest part was hearing Chris say, like,
"He's very confused.
He needs some time to think about things."
I think just hearing that, I can't help but think,
like, the things that have been on his mind
have been about us, so...
it's very scary to think about, you know,
him telling me that he doesn't see me as his wife someday
and that he's made his mind up, and it's just not me.
[knock at door]
♪ ♪
[sighs heavily]
"Rachael, I'm so sorry for making you wait.
"I've had a lot on my mind these last few days.
"You deserve answers.
Meet me at the lake. Matt."
[breathes deeply]
[soft suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
[ducks quacking]
♪ ♪
‐ [sighs]
♪ ♪
[sighs]
Hey. ‐ How you doing, man?
‐ Good. ‐ Good to see you.
‐ Good to see you too.
[sighs]
‐ Feelin' okay?
‐ [sighs]
Nervous. ‐ Yeah.
‐ Really nervous.
You know, I thought that these few days would help
in‐‐in giving me clarity, and...
I still have some uncertainty stepping into today.
I didn't think I'd feel like this
in this moment, you know?
‐ And what are you feeling? Can you explain it?
‐ [sighs] It's heavy, Chris.
I just have in my head how I visualized things going
and what comes with this commitment
and what comes with this proposal,
and I've been in my head about that.
I've been thinking about it nonstop.
What I feel now, I've never felt before,
and that's what I came here looking for,
and that's what I'm holding onto
going into this conversation with Rachael.
You know, I‐‐I love Rachael, and the more I say it,
the more assured I am in that feeling.
‐ Do you know how this is gonna end today?
‐ I think it's all gonna come to me when I see her.
‐ Well, this is gonna be, uh,
the most important talk of your life...
[soft music]
So why don't you take this in
and say a little prayer and get your thoughts together?
‐ [sighing] Okay. ‐ Good luck, my friend.
‐ Thank you. ‐ All right, bud.
♪ ♪
‐ [sighs]
♪ ♪
I'm about to walk into the biggest moment of my life.
♪ ♪
It's gonna be
the most difficult decision I've ever made.
♪ ♪
I don't know what I'ma do.
I don't know what I'ma say to her.
I've got this beautiful diamond ring in my pocket,
and I know what that commitment means to me
and how much Rachael means to me...
♪ ♪
[sighs]
But is that something that we're ready for?
I don't know.
♪ ♪
Is love enough?
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[gate creaks]
♪ ♪
[sighs]
♪ ♪
‐ [exhales]
‐ [sighs]
♪ ♪
[soft somber music]
‐ [sighs]
♪ ♪
[gear cranks]
‐ [sighs]
♪ ♪
[sighs]
‐ Hey, Rach.
‐ How are you?
♪ ♪
‐ How ya feelin'?
‐ I'm really nervous.
‐ Yeah, I can see it in your eyes.
‐ Yeah, I'm very nervous. Mm.
I just‐‐I don't know where his head's at, so...
‐ Yeah. You still in love?
‐ Very much.
‐ All right. You ready to go?
‐ I'm ready. ‐ All right.
He's waiting right through there.
‐ Okay. ‐ Good luck.
‐ Thank you.
♪ ♪
This is definitely the most scared that I've ever been.
♪ ♪
To think that this could either
be one of the best conversations of my life
or one of the worst...
‐ [sighs]
I've never wanted anything more in my life.
♪ ♪
I'm really scared that I'm gonna walk up there
and pour my absolute heart out to him
one last time,
and that's gonna be it.
He's gonna break my heart.
So yeah, I'm scared.
♪ ♪
‐ Let me hug you first.
‐ [sighs]
[sighs]
Um...
You know, I pictured this going a certain way...
And I, um... [breathing shakily]
I imagined how it would feel,
standing here before you like this...
And then yesterday happened...
[somber music]
And it changed everything.
♪ ♪
[sighs]
I hated going into today on that note...
♪ ♪
But I hated...
hated, more than anything,
the thought of you hurting and you being confused...
♪ ♪
And you not wanting to see me, because, you know,
I want to be there for you when you're hurting,
and when you're hurting, I'm hurting,
and I don't know what happened yesterday,
but I do know, you know,
I'm not gonna run just when it gets tough.
♪ ♪
You know, I don't know if you still want this,
but, regardless, I...
[sighs]
Feel so unbelievably lucky
just to have felt what I have felt for you.
You know, I‐‐I've never felt a love like this
in my entire life... [sighs]
And at the end of the day,
I‐‐I just want you to be happy...
♪ ♪
[sighs]
But I just know with all my heart
that I love you,
and I will choose you every day from here on out
if you'll let me.
♪ ♪
[sighs]
‐ [sighs]
[clears throat]
I came to this journey... ‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ To find love,
and I didn't know what it looked like,
I didn't know what to expect,
because it's not something I've experienced,
and everything that I came here looking for, I found with you.
It's scary to think about because...
I wanna be everything to you.
I wanna be everything for you that my dad wasn't to my mom...
[sighs]
And...
[sighs]
As I'm wrestling with what I'm gonna do today,
the easy thing for me to do
would be to brush those feelings and emotions off
and make you happy,
and that's to propose to you today...
‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ [sighs]
But I couldn't live with myself if
I put you through what my mom's been through.
I've seen what rushing into a proposal,
a marriage, can do in my family...
‐ Mm‐hmm. ‐ And it's ugly,
and it's not something that I want for you or for us...
♪ ♪
[sighs]
♪ ♪
[sighs]
And that's why I can't propose to you today.
♪ ♪
‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ But that doesn't mean I wanna lose you.
When I think about the life I wanna live,
I think about living that life with you.
And I wanna leave here with you,
and I wanna commit to you
and to every day building on what we started here...
‐ Mm.
‐ And the truth is that I love you.
‐ I love you too.
[laughs]
[sweeping music]
[both laughing]
‐ I'm in love with you,
and I do see you as my wife.
I see you as the mother of my kids.
I see those kids being crazy.
[both laugh]
‐ Me too. ‐ [laughs]
♪ ♪
I just wanna make sure my love is enough for you.
♪ ♪
‐ [quietly] Of course it is.
Like, of course it is. ‐ [laughs]
‐ You are the most amazing person
that I've ever met in my entire life.
Like, I really do picture our life together after this.
I picture it all with you. ‐ [laughs]
[uplifting music]
♪ ♪
‐ Oh, my God.
‐ You look incredible.
‐ [laughs] Thank you.
‐ There is one more thing. ‐ Okay.
♪ ♪
[laughs] Oh, God.
[laughs]
♪ ♪
‐ Rachael, will you accept this rose?
‐ Yes.
[both laughing]
♪ ♪
I am so, so happy.
I found the love of my life.
All the ups and downs, even yesterday...
[slapping knee]
‐ Sorry. ‐ It was worth it.
[sweeping music]
[laughing]
♪ ♪
[gasps, exclaims]
Wait, what?
‐ It's nice to tell somebody that you love 'em,
and every time I say it, it feels more real.
‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ And it doesn't get more real than this.
‐ [giggles]
♪ ♪
I love you.
‐ I love you too. ‐ [laughs]
♪ ♪
Love you. ‐ Love you.
‐ Love you too.
‐ [laughing]
[horse neighs]
♪ ♪
‐ Stay tuned for
"The Bachelor: After the Final Rose"
starting right now.