The Bold and the Beautiful Recap, July 18, 2023: Steffy and Finn’s Fear, Hope’s Ringless Revelation, and Brooke’s Worry for The Future

Top 5 Takeaways:

1. Steffy and Finn’s Unsettled Peace: The couple relishes in the silence of their home, but Finn’s concern about Liam’s interference paints a cloud over their bliss.
2. Hope and Liam’s Confrontation: Hope comes clean about the passionate encounter in Rome, putting her marriage on the line as she dares to confront Liam about his long-standing pattern of running to Steffy.
3. Finn’s Warning to Liam: Finn may trust Steffy, but he isn’t afraid to send a clear message to Liam about remembering his place in Steffy’s past, not her present.
4. Brooke and Ridge’s Discussion: Thomas, the kiss, Hope and Liam’s marriage; Brooke and Ridge dive deep into the undercurrents of the Forrester family drama.
5. Hope’s Ringless Stand: The stripped wedding ring signifies Hope’s acceptance of the impending divorce, marking a dramatic turn in Hope and Liam’s tumultuous relationship.

Nestled in the serenity of the Cliff House, Steffy and Finn find comfort in each other’s arms, relishing the quiet with the kids away. A conversation about finding a new nanny transitions into a deeper exploration of their bond. Finn appreciates their strong marriage, especially amidst the storm brewing in Hope and Liam’s lives.

Steffy, lost in thought about the upcoming visit from Liam to see Kelly, is jarred by Finn’s suggestion that Hope and Liam should reconcile — not just for their sake, but for all involved, including them. Steffy promises Finn that Liam won’t bring his problems to their door, but Finn has concerns about Liam leaning on Steffy if things don’t improve with Hope.

At Forrester Creations, Brooke is lost in thought, reliving her argument with Hope at Thomas’s place. Ridge, ever the perceptive partner, notices her distraction and they dive into a conversation about Thomas. Ridge appreciates Brooke’s attempt to ease Thomas’s guilt over the kiss and is hopeful that Hope and Liam can move past this hiccup.

Meanwhile, at the cabin, Hope is wrestling with her feelings. Liam’s text catches her off guard, but she agrees they need to confront the future of their marriage. Hope is riddled with guilt over the incident in Rome and realizes that if they want to save their marriage, they need to confront all their issues, including the one concerning Thomas and Steffy.

Hope acknowledges her mistake in Rome, expressing regret and confusion about her actions. She wonders if it was a momentary lapse or an attempt to escape, but the passion was real. Not wanting to be hypocritical, she confronts Liam about his habit of running to Steffy in troubled times, which his expression confirms.

Back at the cliff house, Finn voices his doubts about Liam, fearful that their shared history might reignite old feelings. Steffy reassures him that what she and Liam had is in the past, but Finn still warns Liam to remember that.

Meanwhile, at the cabin, Hope and Liam continue their heated conversation. Liam challenges Hope’s sudden shift of blame to Steffy in light of the kiss with Thomas. Hope insists that she has been grappling with deep-seated fears, triggered by memories of her mother’s heartache over Ridge’s divided loyalties.

Liam argues that Steffy has not been a problem for a while now and finds it hard to believe that Hope’s actions in Rome are due to issues with Steffy.

Hope reveals her hand, stripped of its wedding ring, a symbol of her acceptance of the impending divorce. She doesn’t want to live with the constant worry about where Liam’s affections truly lie. She sends him away, urging him to find love elsewhere.

Back at Forrester, Ridge remains hopeful that things will work out for the best. Brooke shares his sentiment but can’t shake the worry about the impending impact of Hope and Liam’s separation on their lives.