Tensions Erupt as Ridge Pushes for One-on-One with Eric
The Office Clears… Except for Two People Who Refuse to Leave
The episode opens with intense urgency as Ridge Forrester asks everyone in the Forrester office to step outside so he can speak with his father privately. He attempts to keep his voice steady, but the strain beneath it is unmistakable. One by one people file out—until only two remain: Brooke Logan and Donna Logan. Both women fold their arms, silently communicating that they’re not going anywhere. If Ridge wants to talk to Eric alone, he’s not getting his wish without a fight.
Donna immediately launches into Brooke, insisting that the forced retirement stunt was cruel, humiliating, and profoundly disrespectful to Eric. She calls the plan manipulative, saying that ambushing him with decorations and speeches was the opposite of honoring him. Brooke pushes back hard, claiming the retirement was done in good faith—out of love, out of worry, out of a desire to protect the man who built the company. But the moment she says it, Eric snaps that “good faith” doesn’t look like being pushed out of your own life’s work. He reminds them how many decades he’s poured into the business, how much of himself he sacrificed to make Forrester an empire.
There is not a second of silence. Every time one person takes a breath, someone else cuts in. Ridge tries to justify his intentions. Eric fires back that being treated like a burden is worse than being treated like an employee. Brooke defends Ridge. Donna defends Eric. Words overlap, emotions burst, voices rise—four people speaking, interrupting, fighting, none giving an inch. It’s chaos, pure and unfiltered, and no one can stop long enough to actually hear each other.
Steffy Seeks Finn—And Eric’s Designs Shift Her Perspective
Meanwhile, unable to stay in the room any longer, Steffy Forrester steps out and immediately calls John “Finn” Finnegan to join her in a nearby office. When he arrives, she shows him Eric’s designs—stunning pieces infused with vision, innovation, and unmistakable mastery. Finn watches her face as she studies them, and even he can see the impact they’re having.
Steffy admits she’s shocked. She didn’t expect the designs to be this good—this inspired. For the first time, she hesitates. For the first time, she wonders if maybe Eric’s passion truly isn’t gone. She whispers that these sketches could change everything about how she sees the retirement question. It’s a moment of sincerity and admiration she never anticipated.
Daphne and Carter Retreat—And Their Support for Eric Solidifies
In another room, Daphne and Carter Walton discuss the disaster unfolding down the hall. Daphne is unwavering—she fully supports Eric. She speaks softly but with conviction, telling Carter that what happened was a violation of dignity.
Carter admits he’s beginning to see things more clearly. He tries to balance the business side with the emotional reality, but Eric’s pain keeps resurfacing in his mind. Slowly, Carter acknowledges that he understands why Eric is so hurt. He tells Daphne that if he were in Eric’s position, he would feel blindsided too.
It’s clear: they both stand with Eric now.
After the Storm—Brooke Holds Ridge as He Breaks Down
Back in the main office, the arguing finally burns itself out. Eric leaves with Donna, hurt and exhausted beyond what words can express. The room falls silent for the first time.
Ridge and Brooke remain.
Ridge’s face crumples under the weight of everything that just happened. His voice cracks as he admits he was only trying to do what he thought was right, but it all blew up in his face. Tears fall as he wonders if he’s lost his father’s trust completely. Brooke moves toward him gently and pulls him into her arms. She tells him he isn’t a bad son—but the guilt sitting in Ridge’s chest is crushing, and nothing she says can lighten it.
Eric and Donna Retreat—And Eric Faces His Pain Alone
In another part of the building, Eric and Donna settle into a quiet room. Eric tries to pump himself up, insisting he won’t let Ridge’s actions define him. But as he speaks, his voice trembles. He finally asks the question that’s been haunting him: Why doesn’t Ridge want to work with me? He talks about his passion for design, about how much life and love he still feels when he creates. His sadness is palpable, heartbreaking. Donna tries her best to reassure him, but all she can offer is an apology.
Eric nods and tells her he needs a moment alone.
Donna reluctantly leaves.
Eric turns off the lights in the catwalk room, the shadows swallowing him as he walks slowly beneath the mannequins and beams. His silhouette moves across the quiet space—an icon questioning his place in the world he built. He stops in the center, overwhelmed, defeated, and deeply, profoundly hurt.
The episode ends with him alone in the darkness, struggling to hold himself together.
