In a heartbreaking turn on The Bold and the Beautiful, Ridge Forrester’s attempt to solidify his future with Taylor Hayes backfires spectacularly. His romantic proposal—meant to symbolize a new beginning—quickly becomes a moment of reckoning. In one evening, Ridge’s illusions about love, loyalty, and closure are torn apart.

For weeks, Ridge has been trying to silence the voices urging him back toward Brooke, his long-time love. Determined to move forward, he plans the perfect night to propose to Taylor, the woman who stood by him through chaos and pain. Everything is set for a magical evening—romantic lighting, a private table, champagne, and a heartfelt speech. But just when Ridge believes he’s taking the first step toward a solid future, Taylor says no.

What stuns Ridge even more than the rejection is Taylor’s reason: she has been romantically involved with another man. While working abroad in South Africa, she developed a deep connection with a fellow doctor named Michael. Taylor’s feelings for Michael are real—and worse, she confesses that part of her motivation for getting involved was emotional revenge. The years of Ridge choosing Brooke over her, the repeated heartbreak, had left wounds she tried to heal by hurting Ridge in return.

The emotional honesty of Taylor’s confession leaves Ridge stunned and hollow. He realizes that Taylor, like Brooke, has now used love as leverage. Without a word, he walks away, leaving everything—and everyone—behind. Ridge’s silent departure shocks the Forrester family. He resigns from his duties, skips town without notice, and finds himself in a quiet coastal town in Oregon, where he starts working under the radar for a small fashion company.

Here, Ridge begins to rediscover himself. Free from the tangled web of his past, he finds solace in the simple life and eventually strikes up a bond with Mara, a down-to-earth artist who appreciates him for who he is—not for his last name or legacy. Their slow-building relationship offers Ridge something he’s never had: a chance at authentic happiness without manipulation or history.

Back in Los Angeles, Taylor faces public scrutiny and familial disappointment. Thomas and Steffy support her, but the hurt is undeniable. Brooke, upon learning of Ridge’s failed proposal and his disappearance, is caught between guilt and hope. Eric blames himself for pushing Ridge too hard and begins questioning his role in his son’s emotional collapse.

When a crisis hits Forester Creations, Ridge is reluctantly pulled back to help resolve a major design issue. His return is brief but emotionally charged. He confronts Taylor, who offers an apology without expectations. Ridge thanks her for her honesty but confirms that their story is over. His conversation with Brooke is similarly bittersweet—he acknowledges their enduring connection but insists they cannot return to the toxic cycle that’s defined their past.

Ridge leaves Los Angeles again, choosing the quiet of Oregon and the freedom of anonymity. His relationship with Mara deepens, and he starts to believe he may finally have found what he was always searching for: peace.

This chapter in Ridge’s life marks a turning point not just for him, but for the show. For once, he’s not torn between Taylor and Brooke. He’s stepped away from the triangle that defined decades of drama. But in The Bold and the Beautiful, healing is just another kind of beginning.