Thomas Forrester’s return to Los Angeles was nothing like the storms of the past — quiet, almost surgical, with no drama or press. But beneath the calm surface, a war was raging inside the Forester family. Months spent in Zurich had changed Thomas. Therapy and deep self-examination had burned away his old demons, leaving him reborn, calm, and controlled. By his side was Dr. Ree Mallerie — his neuropsychiatrist turned partner — the only one who truly understood him.

But the real battle was not Thomas’s inner struggle. It was about their son, Douglas. The bright, sensitive boy who once thrived emotionally was now shattered — flinching at noises, refusing to speak in groups, and plagued by night terrors. Ree’s diagnosis was chilling: severe trauma-induced anxiety escalating dangerously. The solution? Intensive therapy abroad in Switzerland — a place far from triggers and painful history.

Hope, Douglas’s mother, refused to let Thomas take him out of the country. She distrusted Thomas’s intentions and especially mistrusted Ree, seeing her as just another enabler of Thomas’s manipulations. The parents’ bitter custody battle erupted, with Hope refusing to sign off on joint custody approval.

In a desperate bid, Ree suggested giving temporary legal guardianship to Brooke Logan, a trusted family figure fiercely protective of children. Thomas agreed. But Hope exploded in fury, accusing Thomas of manipulation and deception, filing for emergency custody. The family courtroom became a circus — media frenzy, stock market jitters, and intense legal sparring.

Hope portrayed Thomas as unstable and manipulative; Thomas stayed calm, armed with medical reports and Ree’s expert testimony outlining Douglas’s symptoms. The judge’s decision was a tense tie: joint custody remained, but Brooke was granted temporary guardianship to authorize Douglas’s treatment overseas.

Douglas returned to the Swiss clinic — a cold, pristine facility nestled in the Alps. Brooke tried to soothe him with stories and puzzles, but a shadow loomed. A new program director had arrived: Dr. Alec Lang — a name that sent chills through Ree. Lang was the alias of Dr. Alexander Marson, a disgraced neurologist once banned for unethical behavioral control experiments on minors.

Lang’s presence in Douglas’s care was a nightmare come true. Thomas was blindsided; Brooke had been assured the clinic was trustworthy. Access to Douglas was suddenly revoked. Ridge flew to Zurich, but Julian Dvau — a shadowy former fashion mogul with a grudge against the Foresters and Logans — had arrived first. Julian secretly funded the clinic and orchestrated Lang’s return, hoping to reshape Douglas into his own loyal heir.

Brooke confronted Julian, who smugly declared Douglas needed “structure” and “peace” — something the Foresters never gave. Julian held control, blocking interference. Douglas was placed into a sinister cognitive recalibration program: isolation, emotional deprivation, no contact with family.

Desperate, Ree hacked into the clinic’s system, uncovering horrifying footage of Douglas being subjected to cruel experiments. They took the evidence to the U.S. Embassy, triggering an emergency welfare investigation. Swiss authorities raided the clinic; Lang and Julian vanished, but Douglas was found alone and sedated.

Thomas broke down when reunited with his son. The scandal exploded publicly, damaging Forester Creations and dividing the family further. Hope cut ties with Thomas — but then, in a moment of fragile peace, she came to his door: “I just want him safe.”

Together, they agreed on joint care — no lawyers, no court battles, just a focus on Douglas’s wellbeing. The family rallied; Ridge gave Thomas a new role; Hope and Thomas worked side by side cautiously. Douglas began to smile again.

Yet, the shadow of Julian Dvau lingered. From a private island in Corsica, he watched and waited. He still held secrets, still had power. And the war for Douglas’s soul was far from over.