After months of believing she had finally secured Ridge’s heart, Taylor is beginning to see everything unravel faster than she feared. The reason? Nick Marone is back in Los Angeles, and his undeniable chemistry with Brooke is impossible to ignore. Taylor has done everything she can to convince Ridge that Brooke belongs to his past.

But something has shifted. Every glance Ridge gives Brooke is laced with a new energy. Jealousy. It started off small—Ridge brushing off Nick’s return like it meant nothing. But then came the moment at Forrester when Ridge saw Nick kiss Brooke on the cheek. Taylor caught the reaction instantly: clenched jaw, tense shoulders. He’s just a relic from the past, Taylor told herself.

Still, the truth crept in. She’s always been second best. Even when Ridge chose her, part of him still belonged to Brooke. And Brooke? She knows it. Spoilers suggest she’s noticed the change too, especially after Ridge questioned her about Nick. Brooke, a master of emotional strategy, realized Ridge’s concern masked something deeper.

Now she’s ready to act. With Nick back and open to rekindling what they once had, Brooke plans to use him to pull Ridge back in. “He’s changed,” she told Katie. “Maybe he’s still everything I ever wanted.” Her smile spoke louder than her words. Nick, for his part, is sincere—he wants a fresh start.

He understands Brooke and Ridge’s complicated history, but he’s hoping Brooke is finally ready to let it go. What he doesn’t realize is Brooke may never be done with Ridge—and she’s using this triangle to her advantage. By welcoming Nick’s attention, she’s provoking Ridge, stoking that possessive flame that always burns just beneath the surface. And Ridge is already slipping.

Taylor’s efforts to ground him with family, career, and shared dreams are starting to fail. And in a rare, raw moment, she asks herself the question that’s haunted her for years: If he still looks at her like that, do I ever really stand a chance? That lingering doubt is what will push Taylor toward a heartbreaking choice. Spoilers confirm she will soon leave Los Angeles.

She can’t stay in a place that constantly reminds her she was never truly the one. Behind the scenes, this could mark the end of Rebecca Budig’s time as Taylor. Fans have been divided on her version of the character, but many agree she brought passion and emotional depth to the role.

With her exit looming, it’s clear: Ridge and Taylor are over—at least for now. The real question is, will Ridge fall into Brooke’s trap, or choose to walk away from it all? Can Brooke truly fall for Nick, or is he just a tool in her larger game? What are your thoughts on Rebecca Budig’s Taylor? Should she return, or has her story reached its natural end? One thing is certain: with Taylor stepping away and Brooke playing with fire, the iconic triangle at the heart of The Bold and the Beautiful is about to explode once more.