At the office, their chemistry becomes impossible to ignore. Behind closed doors, Carter and Daphne share stolen moments, flirting whenever they’re alone. While Carter is falling deeper under Daphne’s spell, Hope is preoccupied with her own suspicions. She’s convinced that Steffy is scheming and plotting something shady. Little does she know, the real betrayal is unfolding right under her nose.

Eventually, Hope notices a change in Carter’s behavior. However, by the time she realizes he’s involved with Daphne, it’s too late. Daphne’s seductive tactics have completely won him over, leaving Hope powerless to stop it. But Daphne’s ambitions go far beyond stealing Carter’s heart. Her ultimate goal is to manipulate him into signing documents that return control of the company to the Forresters. And spoilers confirm she’ll succeed.

After securing the deal, Daphne makes an even bolder move—she urges Carter to leave town with her. She paints a picture of a fresh start in Paris, far away from the betrayals and guilt weighing him down. Feeling ashamed for betraying Ridge and the Forrester family, Carter agrees. The decision is final: he will leave with Daphne, leaving Hope behind to pick up the pieces of her shattered life.

The fallout is devastating for Hope. Not only has she lost Carter, but her career is also in jeopardy now that the company has been handed back to the Forresters. To make matters worse, Hope discovers that Daphne has been working with Steffy all along. Furious, Hope vows to take revenge. She believes Steffy orchestrated this entire ordeal to ruin her happiness, and now, Hope is determined to destroy Steffy’s marriage in retaliation.