As the sun sets over the glistening hills of Lake Como, it’s not just the Italian skies that are burning with fire — it’s Ridge Forrester’s heart, torn between decades of passion, pain, and impossible choices. This week on The Bold and the Beautiful, an emotional confrontation between Ridge and Taylor explodes, setting the stage for a dramatic shift that could change everything… and everyone.

The storm begins in the familiar, elegant walls of the Forrester estate in Los Angeles. Ridge stands tall, his fists clenched and his jaw rigid, barely holding back the emotional turmoil swirling beneath the surface. Across from him, Taylor Hayes — his longtime confidante, former wife, and eternal romantic hopeful — pleads with fragile hope in her voice.

“We should go to Italy together,” she whispers. “Just us. Leave it all behind.” It’s a desperate pitch, a final attempt to rekindle something they’ve fought to revive countless times before.

But this time, Ridge doesn’t waver.

“Don’t follow me to Italy,” he growls, the words slicing through the silence like a dagger. “I mean it, Taylor.”

Just then, Brooke Logan walks in — Ridge’s other great love, his most consistent obsession, and Taylor’s fiercest rival. She freezes in the doorway, catching the tail end of the devastating declaration. Her eyes catch Taylor’s just in time for that familiar battle to reignite. It’s not loud. It doesn’t need to be. The message is crystal clear: Ridge has chosen. And once again, it’s not Taylor.

As Taylor crumbles and Ridge stiffens, the air between them crackles with finality. Upstairs, Eric Forrester hears the shouting and hurries down, alarmed. But it’s already too late.

“I told her I’m going alone,” Ridge tells his father, his voice low but firm. “Unless someone else chooses to join me.” His brief glance at Brooke is barely perceptible — but not to Taylor.

Eric, a veteran witness to the chaos these three have caused one another for decades, sighs in despair. “Why now, Ridge?” he asks quietly. “Why throw away what you’ve rebuilt with Taylor?”

Ridge’s answer is simple. “Because I’m tired. Tired of pretending. I thought going back to Taylor would heal me, but it didn’t. It never felt whole.”

Taylor is stunned. “I thought we were healing,” she says, tears rising in her eyes. “I thought Italy would bring us together again.”

“You were wrong,” Ridge snaps. The sound of his voice — sharp and final — echoes like a slap across the room.

Brooke doesn’t gloat. She’s been here too many times before. But the subtle nod in her direction confirms the truth: this chapter with Taylor is over. For now.

Later, as Ridge and Brooke prepare to leave for Italy, they share a rare moment of peace. “Will you come with me?” he asks, quietly hopeful.

Brooke smiles. “Only if you promise not to shout at me on gondolas.”

But peace, as always in the Forrester universe, is short-lived.

Italy: A New Beginning or an Old Battlefield?

Ridge and Brooke arrive at a luxurious villa overlooking Lake Como. It’s picture-perfect — until the past comes crashing in. Unbeknownst to them, Taylor is already in Rome. She’s not alone, either.

Thanks to daughter Steffy’s scheme, Taylor is now appearing in public with Dr. Adrien Lair — a charming, European suitor from a past conference. Steffy insists it’s time for her mother to stop playing the victim and start playing the game. Taylor reluctantly agrees.

Meanwhile, back in Italy, a mysterious delivery lands at Ridge and Brooke’s romantic dinner. A bracelet charm from Taylor’s old keepsake and a chilling note: She won’t let go that easy.

Suddenly, Ridge’s attempt at clarity starts to unravel. “She followed us,” he says, stunned. “Why?”

Brooke’s response is firm. “Maybe she’s trying to move on. Or maybe she’s trying to manipulate you. Either way, don’t give her what she wants.”

But the drama doesn’t end there.

During a high-profile fashion event in Rome, Ridge and Brooke arrive hand-in-hand, smiling for the cameras. Across the room, Taylor — radiant in an emerald gown — stands beside Adrien, but her eyes are locked on Ridge. The moment crackles with unresolved tension. Decades of emotions swell beneath the surface.

Later, Brooke packs her bags, ready to leave. “This will get messy,” she warns Ridge. “I won’t be caught in another triangle.”

The Face-Off: Ridge vs. Taylor — The Final Goodbye?

The next morning, Ridge and Taylor meet at a quiet café overlooking the Spanish Steps. Adrien watches from a distance. It’s the conversation that should’ve happened years ago.

“Why did you come here?” Ridge asks.

“I needed closure,” Taylor replies, calm but emotional.

“And the threatening note? The bracelet?” he pushes.

Taylor is genuinely shocked. “That wasn’t me.”

Suddenly, the game shifts. If Taylor didn’t send the package… who did?

The Mystery Deepens: Who’s Pulling the Strings?

Back in Los Angeles, forensic results from the anonymous package reveal something disturbing — the note was typed on an old-fashioned typewriter, handled with gloves, and completely untraceable. Steffy and Thomas are spooked. They begin to wonder: Is someone trying to sabotage Ridge and Brooke… or manipulate Taylor?

One name rises to the top of the list: Sheila Carter. Mysteriously silent for months, could she be orchestrating chaos from the shadows?