This week on The Bold and the Beautiful, Ridge Forrester makes a decision so explosive, so deeply personal, that it will forever change the course of his life—and not in the way he expects. Known for his powerful presence at Forrester Creations and his turbulent love life, Ridge is no stranger to making controversial choices. But this time, the consequences won’t just impact his relationships—they’ll tear at the very core of his family, his business, and his own identity. For Ridge, a man who has always believed he could fix any mess he created, this latest move may be one mistake he can never undo.
It all begins when Ridge is presented with damning evidence about Thomas’s mental health and his recent secret visits to a psychiatric facility under an alias. The information is brought to him privately by a concerned colleague—one who believes Thomas may be spiraling again. The news comes as a devastating blow. Ridge had just started to believe that Thomas was finally on a path of redemption. With Douglas’s custody still in question and Hope creating more distance than ever, Ridge must choose between blind loyalty to his son and protecting the family legacy. Torn, Ridge turns to Brooke, hoping for guidance—but what he gets instead is a firm, painful ultimatum.
Brooke makes it clear: if Ridge continues enabling Thomas and allows him to hold a senior position at Forrester, she cannot stand by him any longer. She reminds Ridge of all the chaos Thomas has caused in the past—manipulating Hope, faking relationships, and walking the line between obsession and mental instability. She pleads with Ridge to think not just about Thomas, but about Douglas, Hope, and the entire company. Ridge, as always, is caught between his heart and his head, between being a father and being a leader.
Meanwhile, Steffy supports her brother without question. She urges Ridge to ignore the noise and stand strong beside Thomas, arguing that they’ve all made mistakes and that Thomas deserves support, not punishment. She and Taylor both try to pull Ridge toward unity and understanding, painting Thomas as misunderstood rather than malicious. And for a moment, Ridge leans their way—until something else lands on his desk that changes everything.
A confidential report from the clinic Thomas had been visiting reveals something Ridge wasn’t prepared for: not only has Thomas been lying about his mental health progress, but he has refused critical medication. Worse, he’s been using an alias to shield those around him from knowing the full extent of his instability. The truth is unavoidable. Ridge is devastated. He feels betrayed, broken, and cornered. He realizes that keeping Thomas at the company, or anywhere near Douglas, could be catastrophic.
In a private board meeting, Ridge makes the painful decision to suspend Thomas indefinitely from Forrester Creations and to recommend that custody of Douglas remain with Hope until further psychiatric evaluations are completed. He delivers the decision with a heavy heart, in a speech filled with hesitation and sorrow. Thomas, blindsided and enraged, storms out without a word. Steffy, in tears, lashes out at Ridge for “abandoning his own son when he needed him most.” Even Taylor is speechless, unsure how to mediate the destruction now erupting between her ex-husband and their children.
The fallout is immediate. Thomas disappears. No one knows where he’s gone. His phone goes straight to voicemail, and even Paris hasn’t heard from him. Ridge becomes increasingly anxious as hours turn into days. The press gets wind of a Forrester family “crisis,” and rumors swirl that the company may be in danger of a major scandal. Ridge finds himself unable to sleep, haunted by what he’s done. Did he make the right call? Or did he just push his son over the edge?
Meanwhile, Hope, though grateful for Ridge’s support, can’t help but feel conflicted. She sees Ridge breaking apart and begins to worry that Thomas’s absence could lead to something irreversible. Brooke reassures her that Ridge did what was right—but even she admits that the damage done to the father-son relationship may never fully heal.
By the end of the week, Ridge finally gets a call—from a police officer. Thomas has been found wandering alone on a coastal highway, disoriented and clearly in distress. He’s safe, but the officer warns Ridge that his son needs serious help. Ridge rushes to the hospital, only to be met with a wall of silence. Thomas refuses to speak to him. “You chose them over me,” he whispers before turning his face away. Ridge tries to apologize, but Thomas won’t even look at him. The emotional barrier is devastating. It’s clear that something in their relationship has been irreparably broken.
Back at home, Ridge sits alone, looking through old photos of Thomas and Douglas. The weight of his decision crushes him. He knows he acted out of love—but in doing so, he may have destroyed the very connection he was trying to protect. Brooke tries to comfort him, but Ridge barely hears her. “I’ve lost my son,” he murmurs. “And I don’t know if I’ll ever get him back.”
And so, the week ends with Ridge isolated and emotionally shattered. He saved his company. He protected his grandson. But the cost was staggering: the love and trust of his firstborn. The Bold and the Beautiful has seen Ridge Forrester rise and fall countless times—but this may be the moment that defines him forever. Because this wasn’t just a decision about business or pride. This was a decision about family. And Ridge may have just made the one choice he’ll regret for the rest of his life.
