Thomas Confronts Ridge, Taylor Decides to End the Wedding | The Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers

Los Angeles was about to feel the impact of Thomas Forrester’s return — and he didn’t come quietly. No long reunions, no polite text saying he was back. Instead, Thomas stepped out of his rideshare with one goal: get to his mother, Taylor Hayes, immediately. Rumors were already swirling about Ridge, Brooke, Italy, and a kiss that could shatter everything. And Thomas knew from experience that when Ridge destroyed a bridge, he liked to pretend he had already built a detour.

When Taylor opened the door, her tight, triage smile told Thomas all he needed to know — this wasn’t gossip, this was damage. She laid it out plain: Ridge had rescued Brooke on the water, kissed her on a terrace, and admitted it in front of the family after Taylor forced the truth into daylight. Then, Taylor had done the unthinkable — pulled the plug on the wedding until the truth could stand on its own.

Thomas’ response was immediate and fierce: he was ready for war. For years, he had watched Ridge chase whatever pulled hardest, leaving the family to pay the price. This time, Thomas wasn’t letting his mother become collateral damage. Steffy soon arrived, fully in crisis mode — phone in hand, sleeves rolled up, already balancing PR chaos and business obligations. Forester Creations had shows, buyers, and cameras ready. A scandal like this could suffocate everything. She was prepared to choose home over habit.

Her message to Thomas was clear: If Dad won’t lead like a Forrester, I will.

At Forrester headquarters, whispers about Ridge, Brooke, Italy, and the halted wedding were already rattling the glass walls. Carter was outside the executive suite, legal pad ready, and Eric called for a family session before rumors could eat the day alive. Ridge entered, trying to project calm, but every edge was frayed. He began with apologies and intentions, but Thomas refused to let him off the hook.

“You kissed Brooke because you wanted to,” Thomas said flatly. “Mom isn’t being dramatic. She’s done. And now, so am I.” Ridge tried to shift into father-son lecture mode, but Thomas countered with a hard truth: I know what it looks like when a man lies to himself and calls it love. I did it. I fixed it. I won’t watch you burn Mom with the same match.

Then Thomas moved to business: this wasn’t just personal — it was about the brand. Every time Ridge turned his personal chaos into a storyline, Forester Creations took a hit. Steffy backed him without hesitation, sliding a folder across the table. Inside: a crisis plan that shifted leadership and public representation to her desk, sidelining Ridge from the spotlight until stability returned.

Eric asked the one question that mattered: Are you doing this to punish your father or protect the company? Steffy didn’t flinch — Both, but the protection is non-negotiable. Ridge called it a coup. Steffy called it a correction.

The legal reality was that an emergency leadership vote could reassign operational control. Eric’s vote could decide it. Rather than blow it up entirely, Steffy offered a compromise — Ridge would step back from public leadership, focus solely on design, and avoid press questions about Italy. Thomas and Steffy would lead all key meetings and events. Ridge hated it, but Taylor appeared in the doorway to make it clear: I won’t pretend we’re fine when we’re not. If you want the company to stop bleeding, stop feeding the scandal.

Brooke soon entered with Donna and Katie, making her own stance clear — no more hiding, no more quiet deals. She supported Steffy taking the public role and wanted the press focused on dresses, not her personal life.

The memo was signed. The statement went out. Forester Creations shifted from chaos to controlled march. Thomas took over the design studio, Steffy managed the front lines, and the office slowly steadied.

That night, Thomas visited Taylor, asking if she wanted Ridge removed completely. She refused — she didn’t want public executions, she wanted standards. Hold him to those, not to your anger. Thomas agreed, promising to keep Douglas out of the crossfire. Steffy handled her half of the battle with precision — turning down tabloid requests, keeping Ridge out of gossip covers, and booking Eric and herself on interviews that focused purely on craftsmanship. She also made sure Taylor knew: We are choosing you.

Ridge tried to regain ground through quiet appeals, history lessons, and hallway talks, but Eric had already decided: Steffy leads until Ridge can stand before both Taylor and Steffy with a future that doesn’t come with a comma.

The press called it a civil war, but inside, discipline returned. Staff whispered less, buyers refocused, and the first preview under the new arrangement landed with crisp applause. Backstage, Ridge watched Steffy command the room and realized she was the leader the family needed.

Ridge and Thomas eventually met late at night in the studio. Thomas laid out his non-negotiables: no using Steffy as a go-between, no pulling rank, no asking him to go easy for pride’s sake — and one personal clause: Apologize to Mom privately without making promises you can’t keep. Ridge did exactly that, showing up to Taylor’s without speeches or flowers. Taylor’s terms were sharp — own your mistake once publicly, don’t let Brooke be painted as a villain, and don’t let her be turned into a martyr. Ridge agreed, and the next day, he issued a final statement confirming the kiss, the pause, and his step back — then stayed silent.

The Forester Civil War didn’t end with a dramatic vote but with a restructured order: Steffy as acting CEO and spokesperson, Thomas leading the current collection, Eric as steady anchor, and Ridge designing under the same rules as everyone else. The Logans respected it — Brooke kept her boundaries, Hope focused on her line, and Katie deflected Spencer Media from stirring trouble.

In the end, the real victory wasn’t just business stability — it was the shift in family dynamics. Taylor earned respect without groveling. Brooke kept her dignity. Steffy proved leadership is about standards, not just a surname. Thomas proved change is about actions, not speeches.

As launch day arrived, the runway lights hit, music swelled, and the collection spoke for itself. The applause was not frenzied but certain — a verdict in fabric and movement. Backstage, Steffy, Thomas, and Eric shared a rare embrace. Ridge joined, not shut out but reminded that love and leadership are both verbs.

Taylor and Brooke, seated separately but connected by shared history, exchanged a look of mutual understanding — neither warm nor hostile, just resolute.

When the venue emptied, Thomas delivered his final condition to Ridge: We’re not here to punish you forever. We’re here to end the pattern. Six months to a year of boring, consistent choices — or this structure becomes permanent. Ridge didn’t argue. He shook his son’s hand. Steffy added the last sting: If you ever ask Mom to accept less than clarity again, I’ll bench you without calling a vote.

For once, Ridge understood — this wasn’t a threat, it was a plan. And in a town built on drama, the Forresters had chosen the most shocking move of all: telling the truth, drawing the line, and running the show their way.