Is she The One? Bachelor star Clayton Echard has a strong connection with Susie Evans. While the contestant made it to the top three and then had a dramatic exit, she returned after Clayton begged for a second chance. Do Clayton and Susie get engaged?  Keep reading for season 26 finale spoilers!

What Happens Between Susie and Clayton?

Susie, 28, definitely leaves an impression on Clayton, 28, during hometown dates because she gets a rose, solidifying her place in the top three. After Serene Russell is eliminated, Susie, Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia then jet off to Iceland for overnight dates with the former football player

Clayton and his contestants then experience the Rose Ceremony From Hell, where he admits he was intimate and in love with multiple women. He convinces Gabby and Rachel to stay after Susie leaves.

After Rachel and Gabby meet Clayton’s parents, he realizes that he can’t stop thinking about Susie and asks her to return. He apologizes when they meet up in Iceland and says he “didn’t mean the things he said.” Susie says she appreciates the conversation and apology but just isn’t sure if she can stay.

“Susie is convinced to stay, and at the final rose ceremony, she rejects Clayton’s proposal, and Clayton left Iceland single,” Reality Steve reported in a March 8 post via Instagram. The reality TV blogger issued an update on March 14, saying that Clayton doesn’t propose, only tells Susie he loves her. In the end, she still rejects him and he leaves single. This all ended up playing out accurately, with Susie leaving Iceland alone.

Do Bachelor Clayton Echard and Susie Evans Get Engaged? Spoilers
ABC/John Medland

Susie has stood out as one of Clayton’s frontrunners since she was given the “Pretty Woman date” during her one-on-one during week 7, where she went on a huge shopping spree with the leading man. Past season winners, like Becca Kufrin, have also received this jealousy-inducing date.

Creator Mike Fleiss alluded to the idea that viewers might not see the Missouri native choose anybody during the finale. 

“No one knows how it will end, cuz it ain’t over til it’s over! And it ain’t over,” he wrote on February 21, insisting that the finale is “totally spoiler proof.”

While the executive has been known to exaggerate in the past, there have been multiple seasons that have surprising endings. Some leads opt not to get engaged and instead continue dating their finalists, such as Matt James. There have been three seasons — Jason Mesnick, Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Peter Weber — who proposed to their final contestant but later changed their minds and started a relationship with their runner-ups. A few leads have even left the reality dating show single, like Brad Womack.

It will be interesting to see how Clayton’s finale unfolds, but he teased that he “did find love” during season 26 in December 2021. 

“You just don’t know what to expect when you step into a role like this,” he explained to E! News. “You think, ‘Well, OK, I’m mentally mature enough to handle this.’ Then, you get into it and you’re like, ‘How did I think I was going to be able to handle this? Dating this many women at one time.’”

Are Susie and Clayton Together? Major Spoilers Below

In the end, Susie and Clayton reveal that they reconnected after Iceland when Susie shockingly reached out. “I could not be more in love with this woman,” Clayton revealed on After the Final Rose. The two also revealed they are moving in together in Virginia. “We’re really happy and we’re happy to be here today,” she said. “That’s my boyfriend.” She also admitted they “took some steps back” but they are currently in love. “I can confidently say yeah, he’s incredible.”

Do Susie and Clayton Get Engaged?

The two do not get engaged, but reveal they are happy together and “serious.” Susie even joked to Jesse that she would be the one asking Clayton to marry her when that time comes.