At Forrester Creations, the air was thick with tension as secrets crackled just beneath the surface. Whispers turned into warnings, and drama surged as Brooke Logan went toe-to-toe with Daphne Rose in a confrontation that was anything but subtle. Brooke, ever the fierce protector of her daughter Hope, made it abundantly clear—Daphne needed to steer clear of Carter. Brooke wasn’t about to let another woman get in the way of what she believed was a destined love story between Hope and Carter.

But that belief was soon shattered.

Carter, already carrying the weight of heartbreak, overheard Hope in a vulnerable conversation with Liam. She confessed that part of her heart would always belong to Liam. That quiet admission rocked Carter to his core. The man who once thought he had a future with Hope now stood face-to-face with the realization that it was all slipping through his fingers. When Carter entered the room, interrupting Brooke and Daphne, his demeanor was completely changed—quiet, defeated, emotionally spent.

After Brooke left, Carter opened up to Daphne. He’d believed so deeply that Hope was his future. He had imagined a life where he was no longer the second choice, the rebound, the temporary distraction. But Hope’s connection with Liam, undeniable and complicated, proved too strong. He was being left behind again.

Daphne, seeing the man she cared for unraveling before her, didn’t hesitate. She left Forrester Creations with Carter, bringing him to the quiet sanctuary of his loft. There, Carter poured out every failure he had endured—every woman who had walked away, every love that never lasted. Daphne listened, heartbroken for him, but also knowing this pain had been coming. She had feared Hope’s indecision would lead to another heartbreak for Carter—and it had.

Meanwhile, across town, a far more devastating secret loomed. Steffy Forrester struggled under the weight of a truth she could no longer ignore—Liam was dying. Sitting with her mother Taylor and husband Finn, she debated whether to keep Liam’s terminal diagnosis private as he’d requested. Finn, ever the empathetic doctor, reminded her of the pain silence could cause, especially to those left behind. Steffy wrestled with the moral dilemma: honor Liam’s wishes or protect Hope and the children from being blindsided by death.

The emotional threads stretched even further at Brooke’s house, where Hope sat with Liam, newly aware of the gravity of his condition. She could barely process it. Liam, trying to maintain his calm, told her the truth—he wasn’t afraid to die, but he didn’t want to be mourned while he was still alive. In a heart-wrenching moment, he told Hope she deserved a life filled with happiness and stability, even suggesting that Carter could give her that.

But the irony of his words cut deep. As Liam gently encouraged Hope to consider Carter, believing Carter was the man who truly loved her, Hope could only cry. Her love for Liam, despite everything they had endured, still burned bright. She apologized for the past, thanked him for always putting her first—even now, in his final days.

Yet back at Carter’s place, heartbreak still echoed. Carter spoke of all the times he’d given his heart fully only to be cast aside. Zoe, Quinn, Katie, and now Hope—each one had left him feeling disposable. Daphne listened, not with judgment, but with quiet support. She didn’t try to change the past. She simply reminded Carter that she was there for him, now and always.

Then, in a dramatic twist that sent shockwaves through the Forrester and Logan families, news broke—Hope and Liam were getting married. Again.

Despite the emotional rollercoaster, the two decided to reclaim their love and face the future as husband and wife. Some saw it as a long-overdue reunion. Others feared it was history destined to repeat itself. But for Carter, it was the final blow. Hope had made her choice, and it wasn’t him.

Just as the wedding plans began to take shape and a sliver of hope flickered for a peaceful future, another revelation brought the entire world crashing down. Hope learned she was pregnant.

The timing couldn’t have been more bittersweet. The joy of new life collided with the shadow of death. While the couple tried to embrace the blessing of a child, doctors delivered devastating news—Liam’s condition had worsened. The tumor had grown aggressively, and there were no more treatment options. Time was no longer a luxury.

This development devastated Hope. The future she had just started to believe in—remarrying Liam, building a family, watching their child grow—was now under threat. The pregnancy, meant to be a symbol of renewal, now stood as a cruel reminder of the time they didn’t have.

Carter, upon hearing the news from a distance, stood in silent mourning. Whatever lingering bitterness he felt began to dissolve. The pain of losing Hope was still fresh, but the finality of Liam’s fate cast everything in a new, somber light. Resentment gave way to sorrow.

As the wedding drew near, everyone—Steffy, Brooke, Taylor, and Finn—braced themselves for what was coming. These weren’t just the final days of a man; they were the final pages of a love story that had spanned years, trials, and too many second chances.

And as Hope prepared to walk down the aisle, carrying new life inside her and unimaginable grief in her heart, only one question remained:

Would Liam live long enough to meet their child, or even say “I do” one last time?