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In Forrester’s main office, Steffy thinks they got out of Hope’s firing and the cutting of her line relatively unscathed. Ridge wishes none of it ever happened. Steffy says, “Same.” She normally doesn’t care who her employees date. She doesn’t care who Hope is seeing, as long as she doesn’t go after her husband. They talk about Hope getting support from Carter. Ridge hasn’t seen him today. Steffy thinks Hope’s gotten into his head somehow.

In Hope’s cabin, she and Carter make out. They go over Steffy ending her life’s work. It was all a misunderstanding… she thought she was going after her husband. They discuss why they can’t tell Steffy about their relationship. Hope thinks it would be nice for her to one day acknowledge that she was wrong about her. Carter’s heading to the office to try and get through to Ridge one more time. Brooke comes in and says she hasn’t had any luck. Carter wants to try one more time with him and Steffy before… Brooke asks, “Before what?” Carter just says he has to turn this around for everyone’s sake.

Finn arrives at Il Giardino, where Deacon tells him he wants to talk about Hope. “I’m worried about my daughter.” He heard she was fired by his wife. Finn asks if he heard what pushed Steffy to do that. Deacon says Brooke told him what Steffy thinks she saw, isn’t what happened. Finn says Brooke’s not objective when it comes to her daughter. Deacon asks, “As opposed to Steffy, who has an ongoing vendetta against Hope for years?” Finn replies, “What about me? The person she threw herself at… again.” Deacon tells Finn that Steffy is acting bull-headed. “You’ve got to try and get through to her, man. Before she does anymore damage than she already has!”

Finn asks Deacon if he’s asking him to support his daughter over his own wife. Deacon just wants him to tell Steffy that sometimes things aren’t what they appear to be. Finn shrugs, “Sometimes they are. Like Hope dressed in lingerie on top of me on the desk.” Deacon protests that she tripped. Finn says he was there. Deacon doubts she intended to seduce him. Finn argues it’s happened before. He knows how much Deacon cares about Hope, but she’s been doing things that haven’t been like her for a while now. Perhaps it’s time she sought professional help She’s her own worst enemy right now. None of this is Steffy’s fault.

In the cabin, Hope tells Brooke that things can’t stand the way they are. Brooke is sure Carter will try; she’s tried too. They know Steffy’s leaning into the father/daughter angle hard. Brooke worries if Carter pushes too hard it could backfire on him. Hope doesn’t want that. Brooke muses, “You’ve really fallen for him, haven’t you?” Hope says it was a nice surprise. He’s a decent man, “The total package.” The way he’s been advocating for the Logans and going toe-to-toe with Steffy and Ridge is really admirable.

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In the main office, Ridge and Steffy complain that Carter has to figure out a solution for this LLC he asked for as they’re paying too much in taxes. Carter comes in an closes the door. Ridge asks if he’s going to yell at his daughter again, “Is that what we’re doing?” Carter didn’t mean to yell before, but he stands on what he was saying. They need to reinstate Hope For the Future. “So, come on, let’s do that. Please.”

At Il Giardino, Deacon says he would never ask Finn to turn against Steffy. Finn says he wouldn’t even if he wanted him to. They go over Hope reading more into their friendship than there was, and Finn repeats that he won’t lobby his wife on Hope’s behalf. As Steffy’s husband, she has his full support.

In Hope’s cabin, she hates that her mother is in the middle of this battle. Talk turns back to her leaning on Carter. Having someone who believes in her means the world. She believes in Carter too, and his vision for Forrester Creations. But Ridge and Steffy are disrespecting him too. “Carter will not allow himself to be their punching bag.” She hopes he’ll be able to get through to Ridge, maybe even in a way Brooke hasn’t been able to yet.

At Forrester, Carter rants about needing to reinstate Hope For the Future and also to expand the company into a global luxury brand. The company rests on the strength of the head designer right now. It would crumble if something happened to Ridge. They need to take his advice and not placate him or brush him off. Steffy isn’t going to change her mind. “Hope For the Future is done.” She thinks he’s supporting Hope a little too much and she’s starting to lose faith in his ability to do what’s best for the company. Carter appeals to Ridge. He agrees with Steffy; Carter is losing his perspective. He wants him to focus on the LLC and leave them to run the company. “Do your job.”

Later, Steffy and Ridge agree that something has changed with Carter. She thinks Hope is influencing him. Finn arrives and kisses Steffy. They update him that Carter is still backing Hope. Ridge says this is difficult because they’re like a family. Finn says Deacon summoned him to try and convince him to pressure Steffy to take Hope back. He made it clear he supports his wife. Steffy doesn’t regret her decision and says there’s nothing Hope can do about it. “Absolutely nothing.”

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At the cabin, Hope and Brooke are wondering if Carter got through to Ridge when Carter returns. He reports that they wouldn’t listen to him. Brooke can’t understand why Ridge goes along with Steffy. Carter says it’s been like this for years. He’s sick of the Forrester vs. Logan battle and feels he let Hope down. She reassures him; she’s never had anyone fight so hard for her before. Carter will keep fighting. Brooke doesn’t think it will matter. Ridge and Steffy control Forrester; they own the company. Brooke gets a text and has to leave for an interview. Once alone, Carter tells Hope he won’t give up on her. She believes in him and thinks he’s an incredible man. They kiss.