Hope is on edge, deeply concerned that her mother, Brooke, has found out about her relationship with Carter. She’s desperate to keep things under wraps and repeatedly begs Brooke to stay

quiet. Fortunately, Steffy, who would be quick to react, hasn’t yet uncovered their secret—though her suspicions are growing.

Steffy senses something unusual between Hope and Carter, suspecting that Hope might be using Carter’s feelings to her advantage, much like she once influenced Thomas. Convinced that

Hope may be manipulating Carter for her own gain, Steffy keeps a close eye on them, suspicious of Carter’s sudden change in behavior and newfound loyalty to Hope. She’s determined to get to the bottom of things, feeling that Hope might be using Carter as a pawn.

As Steffy inches closer to uncovering the truth, Brooke becomes increasingly torn. She fears that keeping this secret from Ridge could threaten her already fragile relationship with him, especially with Taylor still a looming presence in their lives. Brooke knows that Ridge will be livid if he finds out about Hope’s romance with Carter from anyone other than her, and the pressure begins to weigh heavily.

Finally, unable to bear the strain, Brooke decides to reveal everything to Ridge. She lays out the truth about Hope and Carter, leaving Ridge stunned. The news shatters Ridge’s image of Carter, someone he thought he could trust to look out for his family. Now, with Ridge furious and feeling betrayed, Brooke’s attempt to protect her daughter might have sparked a new rift within the family.

As Ridge confronts his anger toward Carter and wrestles with the reality of Hope’s actions, questions remain: Will he be able to forgive Brooke for hiding the truth? How will this affect Hope’s standing with her family? And, as Steffy closes in, will Hope and Carter’s relationship withstand the scrutiny?