In Eric’s office, Ridge asked Brooke what Hope had been thinking. “First, she went after my son and then my son-in-law. What’s next?” Ridge asked, noting how upset Taylor had been. Finn marched in, saying Taylor wasn’t the only one upset; Steffy had left town.
Ridge blamed it on Hope, and Finn said that Hope couldn’t just kiss him. Brooke assumed Steffy was upset with Hope. Finn elaborated that Steffy was upset with him, too, and rightfully so. Brooke said Finn hadn’t encouraged Hope. Finn agreed, stating he hadn’t seen it coming, and added that Steffy had told him not to contact her. He confessed that it was a terrible feeling not knowing where she was.
Later, Finn asserted that he’d had no choice but to tell Steffy because secrets ruined marriages. He wouldn’t let that happen to them, but he wished he’d never had to tell her. He regretted not listening to Steffy and staying away from Hope. He berated himself for always giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. Brooke reassured him that Hope didn’t go around kissing married men.
Finn replied that Hope had kissed him because of whatever fantasies she’d had in her head. Brooke opted not to defend Hope. Finn insisted that he’d never given Hope any mixed signals, yet he was left without his wife, wondering where she was and if she was okay.
Brooke told Finn that he wasn’t to blame. He wholeheartedly agreed, saying he hadn’t initiated the kiss, but it had been the final straw for Steffy after everything that had happened with Finn and Sheila. Finn admitted he’d been drawn in by Sheila, and the same thing had happened with Hope. He’d gotten pulled into Hope’s stresses and offered her a friendly shoulder. Brooke said it was just who Finn was, but he replied that Hope had seen something else.
Finn explained that Steffy had told him to stay away and had noticed that Hope had been “becoming...” Brooke interrupted, saying Hope had been becoming like her mother. Ridge touched Brooke’s hand. Finn explained that Steffy had warned him about both Hope and Sheila. He didn’t know why he hadn’t listened and had instead put himself in situations that undermined his wife’s faith in him.
Ridge advised Finn to let Steffy take the time she needed away, but Finn didn’t like not being there for her if she needed him. He didn’t know where Steffy was. Brooke asked if the kids were okay. Finn said they were being looked after. Ridge suggested they’d talk to the kids if Steffy was gone for more than a few days.
Distraught, Finn said he’d never meant for any of it to happen. He hadn’t wanted the kiss and would never reciprocate it. He loved his family and wanted Steffy home. He wanted to return to where they’d been before Sheila and Hope. Finn just wanted to know Steffy was okay.
At Bill’s house, Bill got off the phone, frustrated because Justin didn’t have any information about Poppy. Katie arrived, saying she’d heard that Bill didn’t have a daughter anymore. Assuming Luna had told R.J., Bill was glad Luna had R.J. to talk to. Bill had loved having a daughter, and it hadn’t been just any daughter. It had been Luna.
Katie figured it had been hard on Bill, but he was thinking of Luna, who’d lost it all. Katie reasoned that Luna still had R.J., Forrester, and Bill. Bill insisted on being there for Luna, no matter how things turned out. He couldn’t reconcile that the Poppy he’d known had committed the murders.
Katie asked if Bill speaking of Poppy in the past tense meant Poppy was out of Bill’s life. Bill replied that he hadn’t made any decisions yet. He was still processing it all and taking things one day at a time. Katie assumed she should tell Will that he didn’t have a sister anymore. It was a shame to Bill that Will and Luna hadn’t gotten to know each other because she could use brotherly support.
Bill was surprised Luna had been coping with her life unraveling before. Katie thought it was due to his support. Bill said he’d wanted to be there for Luna, especially if Poppy went to trial. Katie was sure it would happen. Bill stated that Luna’s home was his home. Katie guessed Luna had to know the situation couldn’t go on like that forever. Bill mentioned R.J., and Katie said Luna had told R.J. that she wanted to be at Bill’s to support him.
Bill flashed back to Luna kissing him and seemed unsettled.
Katie asked if she could do anything for him. Bill said she was already doing it by showing how much she cared. He thanked her for being his guardian angel and so much more. She told him that his family loved him, and he was important to his sons. “And you?” Bill asked. Agreeing, Katie hugged him.
In the condemned apartment, Steffy slept inside a cage and awakened to the whirring sound of a drill. Luna placed a padlock on the door of the standing-room cage. Steffy was groggy. For a moment, she watched Luna working on the cage but then seemed to fall back asleep.
Sometime later, the cage was finished. Steffy awakened again and said Luna’s name. Groggy, Steffy asked what had happened. Luna silently paced. Steffy asked what was with the cage. Luna admitted it was unsightly for an apartment, but it had been “easy pickings” from a building about to be demolished, despite how hard it had been to get it in there.
Steffy had a throbbing headache. Luna assured her it would wear off. Steffy tried to piece together what had happened, and it became clear when she saw her empty tea glass in Luna’s hand. Steffy announced that Luna had drugged her. Steffy banged on the cage, demanding to be freed.
Steffy argued that she’d come to confront Luna about kissing Bill. Luna said Steffy should have stayed out of it, but Steffy replied that she wouldn’t walk away and let Luna get away with it. Luna yelled that her mother was in jail for double murder, and Bill was the only person who understood. Steffy said Luna shouldn’t kiss Bill. Luna reminded Steffy that Bill wasn’t Luna’s father, and she and Bill were adults.
Steffy stated that Bill was with Poppy. Luna figured that wouldn’t be true after Poppy was convicted. Steffy realized that Luna wanted that to happen so she could be with Bill. Steffy accused Luna of drugging Tom, Hollis, and her to get them out of the way. Steffy yelled that the men were dead because of Luna and that Luna wouldn’t get away with it.
Luna replied that she’d gotten away with it so far. She confessed that she’d done it. She’d killed Hollis and her deadbeat father, Tom. “And you aren’t telling a soul,” Luna declared. Steffy banged the cage and screamed for help.
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