At the cliff house, Finn tried to reason with Steffy, imploring her not to let what Hope had done get between them. Steffy lectured Finn, asking how many times she’d told him not to associate with Sheila, and she’d told him to stay away from Hope. Steffy said she couldn’t deal with it. She loved Finn, but she needed time away from him.
Finn told Steffy that she wasn’t leaving, and they’d get through it together. Steffy claimed she didn’t want to leave, but he needed to understand. He figured she was just overwhelmed. Steffy agreed, bringing up their struggle with his connection to Sheila. “And now we have to deal with your aunt who was arrested for a double homicide?” Steffy asked. Finn said that had nothing to do with them. Steffy continued, saying he hadn’t listened to her about Hope. “Instead, you guys kissed!” she yelled.
Steffy said she’d let Liam take care of Kelly, and Finn would take care of Hayes. Finn balked, but she insisted it was best for their marriage. She asked him not to reach out to her. The distraught couple hugged.
In the design office, Brooke asked how Hope could let it happen. Brooke was sure Steffy, who’d been on a rampage for weeks, wouldn’t let it go. Hope figured she’d deserve it when Steffy tore into her, but all she was really worried about was losing her friendship with Finn.
Gobsmacked, Brooke asked if Hope was listening to herself. Hope was ready to own up to what she’d done, but she cared about Finn too much to let Steffy punish him. “Stop it! Just stop it!” Brooke yelled. Brooke wanted Hope to stop all the emotional Finn stuff that instant.
Brooke saw the same cycle happening all over again, with Hope and Steffy fighting over a man. Hope said it didn’t have to be that way. “Then get over your attraction for Finn!” Brooke challenged. Hope started talking about how she felt when she saw Finn, but then she cut herself off, saying she didn’t want to ruin everything. Brooke ordered Hope to control herself.
Hope recalled that she’d tried hard to make things work with Liam, who was a good man. With Thomas and Douglas, love had grown in the most unexpected of places. She claimed that with Finn, she felt something she’d never felt before. Brooke told her daughter that Finn was off-limits. Hope reluctantly agreed. Brooke asked if Hope could control it.
Brooke noted that it hadn’t come out of the blue, and Hope had known she’d had the feelings. Hope replied that she hadn’t thought she’d act on them. Brooke asked if Hope hadn’t been able to help herself. Hope acknowledged that it had felt that way. Brooke asked if Hope knew it wouldn’t happen again. Hope said she didn’t want to be that person or do things like that. “The look on his face...and now he’s telling Steffy,” Hope said.
Brooke wondered where the feelings were coming from. Hope said it could be that she’d never felt that way before, or it could be bitter vindictiveness. Brooke scowled. Hope stated that it was no secret how Hope had felt about Steffy interfering in Hope’s relationships and her line. Brooke didn’t believe Hope would do it for revenge, but Hope recalled that Steffy had said there was nothing Hope could do to hurt Steffy.
Brooke still didn’t believe it was about petty revenge. Brooke thought it was something deeper inside of Hope. Hope said she’d done wrong, Steffy would tear her apart, and she’d take it; however, she hadn’t forgotten that Steffy was no saint, either. Brooke scowled again, and Hope promised not to blame-shift or let it happen again.
Later, Hope was alone when Steffy charged in. Hope immediately apologized. Steffy said she was seeing a whole new petty and selfish side of Hope. She asked how Hope could kiss Finn and if she’d thought he’d just reciprocate. Hope said she hadn’t been thinking. Steffy replied that Hope was using Brooke’s excuses. Hope said it was on her, not Brooke or Finn.
Steffy told Hope to keep Finn’s name out of her mouth. Steffy said she had warned Finn that Hope was a bad influence, but Steffy had never expected Hope to make a play for him. Hope claimed it hadn’t been that way; it had just been a bad decision fueled by Champagne. Steffy stated that Brooke had tried to break up Steffy’s family, and Hope was doing the same.
Hope stated that she wasn’t trying to be a homewrecker. Steffy said Hope could never get between Steffy and Finn. Hope knew that Finn respected Steffy, and Hope would never do anything like it again. Hope cared about Finn and valued the friendship they’d built. Steffy deemed that friendship over for good, and Hope’s innocent mask was off. Steffy ordered Hope to never go near Steffy’s husband again.
In Eric’s office, Taylor asked what Ridge’s gaze was about. He said he was happy that she was there, and she told him that she needed to be there. Taylor had missed everyone, and because of all that had happened, Steffy needed her. She said Steffy felt outnumbered. “You mean by Brooke and Hope?” Ridge asked.
Ridge didn’t want it to be one against the other. He said they were a team. Taylor replied that Steffy didn’t feel that way. Ridge knew that Steffy didn’t want to work with Brooke and had no patience for Hope, but he believed that Steffy was a businesswoman. Taylor added that Steffy was also his daughter. Ridge sardonically replied, “Wow...I know she’s my daughter.”
“But you overruled her,” Taylor said. Ridge corrected her, saying that he’d made a business decision that had been best for all of them, and he did support his daughter. Taylor said he also supported Brooke and Hope. Ridge asked why he couldn’t do both.
Taylor claimed it wasn’t about what Ridge wanted to do; it was about Steffy, and Steffy’s feelings had to be their priority. He agreed but said Steffy didn’t have to worry about Brooke or Hope.
Taylor got a call about setting up her practice. Ridge wanted to do whatever he could to help her move back to her home. She agreed it was her home, and that was why she kept coming back. He joked that he’d thought she’d kept coming back because of “this,” and he pointed to himself. Taylor said she felt needed. He told her that she was, but not to play referee between two families. He was certain Steffy didn’t have to worry about Brooke or Hope.
Later, Ridge was alone when Brooke arrived. He said he had news for her. “About what?” she warily replied. He asked what was going on with her, and she said she didn’t think she could keep it to herself. Brooke brought up the night of the party when Hope had been drinking and feeling loose and uninhibited. Brooke revealed that when Steffy had stepped away, Hope had kissed Finn at the party during Danny's performance.
“What?” Taylor said from the doorway. Brooke turned and asked what Taylor was doing there. Taylor asked if Brooke’s daughter had kissed Steffy’s husband.
