Clay: AD, all day.
Narrator: Can we get an “Oh, Clay?”
AD: Oh, Clay!
Narrator: AD and Clay are each other's perfect match, but their path to a proposal is less of a straight line and more of a winding road. Welcome to Relationship Rewind. The pods. The two singles develop an easy connection early on, but AD also has eyes, well, ears rather, for Matthew, seemingly the only woman able to see past his Stoic exterior.
AD: Is that something you want to do, win me over?
Matthew: I'm going to try.
Narrator: Matthew even goes as far as to say that he's prepared to leave the experiment with AD, until she discovers that he's been telling another woman, Amber, the very same thing.
Amber: Because he did the same thing to me.
Narrator: Clay, meanwhile, feels like home to AD in both comforting and slightly triggering ways, as he irks the former cheerleader by asking direct questions about her appearance. During a particularly heated pod discussion, AD firmly reminds Clay about the point of an experiment where looks don't come first.
AD: In what way do you want to talk about appearance in an experiment where we're not talking about appearance?
Narrator: After boo-hoo crying in the dorms over their fight, Clay eventually apologizes for his behavior and breaks down his walls just in time for AD to see his true heart.
Clay: I just got to thank you for just getting me to this point of just feeling like the man that I should feel like.
AD: Period.
Narrator: His commitment to dropping his ego and leading with vulnerability unlocks something for AD, who pledges to never give up on Clay, setting the stage for their eventual engagement. But first, AD addresses Matthew's red flags head on and confronts him about playing games with both her and Amber, who exits the experiment in episode two. Matthew then decides to leave as well because he can't commit to the plan he believes AD has in mind.
Matthew: I think I now got the entire country of America on my side.
AD: Okay, bro.
Narrator: Matthew's reaction makes it abundantly clear that Clay is her soulmate as the two have stayed true to another through all the ups and downs. With nobody blocking their path, AD and Clay decide to take the next step together and get engaged. The engagement.
Clay: AD and clay sitting in the tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
Narrator: And while Clay might've had concerns about his future wife's appearance in the pods, everything melts away once he sees AD in her full glory for the very first time.
Clay: Wow.
AD: Oh, Clay.
Narrator: The getaway. As it turns out, their physical connection might even rival their emotional one. On their tropical vacation, AD and Clay turn up the heat during a steamy first night in the pool. AD's feelings only get stronger, telling Clay she's just as obsessed with him outside the pods. But the couple continue to experience growing pains when it comes to their communication, clashing again about the importance of physical appearance. AD is immediately taken aback over Clay's overly blunt delivery when he tells her he wouldn't let her get out of shape.
Clay: I be like, "AD Get in that motherf**king gym."
AD: You would not talk to me like that.
Clay: I would say-
AD: That's crazy, Clay.
Clay: If you were out of shape, I would tell you.
Narrator: Ultimately, Clay agrees that his delivery needs some work, recognizing once again that his admittedly oversized ego keeps getting in the way. But during a revealing conversation about their families, Clay lets down his walls, sharing that his parents' marriage ended with infidelity. Despite his past, Clay wants better for his future, as the two leave the Dominican Republic on even stronger ground and return to Charlotte. Real life. Before meeting each other's families, Clay gets even more real about how deep his commitment issues go when it comes to his father.
Clay: I've never seen my dad just stay. He was with my mom for 25 years, once the divorce came, never seen him just single. Always had a girl. To me, the concept of one girl, I'm always having a fear of like, can I just be with one person?
Narrator: But first, AD meets Clay's mother and little sister, who both recognize why the two were drawn to each other in the pods. The conversation, however, takes a turn when AD expresses concern about Clay not prioritizing quality time together because he works so much. Thankfully, Clay's mother saves the day, encouraging both of them to show each other grace in this process.
Clay's Mom: But it has to be a balance.
Narrator: The issue of Clay's busy schedule rears its head once again when Clay meets AD's mother for the first time. When he opens up about fears surrounding marriage, AD's mom puts things in perspective. Once again, moms know best, as AD's mother drops some knowledge on the young couple, setting them straight and encouraging them to do the work.
AD's Mom: And that's just like that self-sabotage, because you have to form and figure out your own stuff for yourself.
Narrator: Despite all the advice, Clay's commitment issues continue to get in the way. When he expresses that he might not be mature enough for marriage, AD reminds him of the purpose of the experiment in the first place.
AD: I did buy into this experiment fully, and I do believe that we committed to a certain timeline in the pods, we committed to it. I don't think I could continue to date you after if it's-
Clay: If it's a no.
AD: Yeah.
Narrator: Pledging to always uplift each other, the two continue to take steps forward, finalizing all the details for the big day, including a tearful choosing of a wedding dress. But while AD said yes to the dress, will she say yes to Clay at the altar?
AD: Time will tell if I'm bride to be or bride to be not.
Narrator: The wedding. Finally, their wedding day arrives, as AD and Clay's families gather together to celebrate the couple. Before he meets AD at the altar, Clay has a heart-to-heart with his father, who imparts some life wisdom.
Clay's Dad: When it comes to right and wrong, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if everybody else is in your ear telling you, "Oh, do this, do that." You got to trust yourself.
Narrator: Everything comes to a climax when Clay and AD meet each other at the altar to begin their journey as husband and wife. AD says she's ready to get married, telling Clay that he's home for her and that she'll always be in his corner. But Clay just can't do the same, breaking AD's heart as he admits that it's not responsible for him to say yes because he needs to work on himself first. The breakup. AD leaves the wedding in tears as she heads back down the aisle with her family. The conversation continues after Clay's rejection as he tries to console AD, telling her she's a perfect girl, but he's just not husband material at the moment. While Clay is committed to moving forward as a couple, an exhausted AD has nothing more to give. Can't get enough of Love is Blind? Visit Tudum.com for all the latest updates.