Ridge Forrester believed he was finally putting the chaos behind him. Tired of Brooke’s persistent attempts to rekindle their relationship and Eric’s subtle nudges toward the past, Ridge made a choice—one grounded in peace and emotional maturity. That choice was Taylor Hayes. After years of romantic whiplash, he was ready to commit to a future not haunted by old patterns. With conviction, he told his family, “I’ve already chosen,” and refused to be swayed.

Wanting to make the moment special and sincere, Ridge invited Taylor to the beach house for what he imagined would be a quiet, life-changing evening. No spotlights, no grand displays—just him, Taylor, and the steady sound of the waves. He held out a ring and asked the question that should have brought joy: “Will you marry me?”

But instead of elation, Ridge saw hesitation. Taylor’s face fell, her eyes filled with tears. She stepped back and, through trembling lips, whispered words that would shake him: “I can’t. I can’t be second anymore.” Her voice cracked with pain as she explained that no matter how much Ridge claimed to choose her, Brooke’s presence always lingered. Every time Brooke entered the room, Taylor said, something shifted in Ridge’s gaze. Something unspoken, yet undeniable.

Taylor wasn’t angry. She was heartbroken—and honest. Her decision to walk away wasn’t a punishment; it was a stand for her self-worth. Ridge had spent years bouncing between two women, but this time, Taylor refused to be an emotional backup plan.

Ridge was left standing in stunned silence, the ring still in his hand, the moment collapsing under the weight of unspoken truths. It wasn’t Brooke who ruined the proposal—it was Ridge’s inability to let her go. Taylor’s emotional intelligence, the very quality he admired, became the reason she refused to marry him.

Now Ridge faces a painful question: Has he finally destroyed both relationships for good? And can Taylor ever trust that she’ll be someone’s first and only choice?