Bachelor Runner-Up Claims She Was His ‘Top Choice’ Guaranteed

Grant Ellis and Litia Garr met face-to-face for the first time since Litia was sent home in the The Bachelor season 29 finale.

Litia, 31, shared during the live segment of Monday’s episode, aired on March 24, that she and Grant, also 31, had numerous discussions about their future throughout the season — including during their final date.

“Grant and I spoke a lot about that day, and everything he mentioned made it seem like it would be just the two of us,” she told host Jesse Palmer. “From our first one-on-one in L.A. to the night before that day, we were certain we would get engaged. I distinctly remember saying goodbye to him, saying, ‘Oh my Gosh, we are getting engaged tomorrow.’ He responded with, ‘I know, I can’t wait. I love you. I love you. I love you.’ Those were his last words to me before I walked up there. It was definitely a surprise.”

Litia claimed that every time she took a step back in their relationship, Grant “accelerated” their progress. She also stated that he told her she was his “No. 1 emotional connection,” noting, “There’s just no way to misinterpret that.” Furthermore, she indicated that Grant had earlier suggested he could “end the show” early because he recognized she was the one for him.

During the season finale of the ABC series, Grant confessed to feeling torn between Litia and Juliana Pasquarosa after professing his love to both. Although Litia urged Grant to choose her, he appeared hesitant, concerned that they weren’t aligned regarding their timelines for having children, and ultimately decided to send her home.

“This is difficult for me. Litia, I love you deeply. I want to give you everything you deserve. However, I’m not the right person for you, and I regret that it has come to this. My emotional connection lies stronger elsewhere,” he conveyed, prompting her to ask, “When did it change?”

“It didn’t change. I truly love you — please don’t think I haven’t been open or honest with you. I just hope you don’t view me differently,” he replied, to which Litia responded, “Well, I do, for sure.”

Litia then expressed that if she were Juliana, she’d have “so many questions” regarding what Grant had communicated to her. As they walked towards her car, Grant inquired if he had misled her. “The switch-up is unbelievable,” she remarked. “I’m disappointed. … I want to make it very clear that I’m confused, sad, and angry.”

One week prior to Grant’s decision to end things with Litia, he had shared his love just before they were set to spend the night together in the fantasy suites.

“I value the maturity you bring to the table. I admire your principles and priorities, and it’s what’s inside you that makes me envision a future with you as my wife, because I do love you,” Grant told Litia, who reciprocated, stating, “I love you, too.”

Later, Grant expressed to the cameras that he had only used those three words once before in his life and worried he might have jumped the gun on telling Litia he loved her while other women were still in the running. (At that moment, he had yet to eliminate second runner-up Zoe McGrady, but it was evidently clear he was referencing Juliana.)

“Maybe I should have waited a bit longer,” he confessed. “I really do love her, but I’m also feeling deep emotions — if not already in love — for someone else. I never thought it was feasible to love multiple people at the same time.”

Reflecting on his season, Grant revealed in his Us Weekly cover story that he fell in love with two women. “I didn’t believe it was possible, but it is,” he acknowledged about loving two people simultaneously. “You probably should try to avoid it, though.”

Grant remarked that “it’s extremely challenging” to be the Bachelor “when you develop feelings and then communicate them openly.”

“You strive to be honest and genuine without holding back — it’s crucial for finding your person — but easily can be painted as the villain because you don’t want to mislead anyone,” he elaborated. “A man dating multiple women is already facing challenges. You must navigate carefully and see how everything unfolds.”

The Bachelor franchise will return with Bachelor in Paradise season 10.