The glamour of the Forrester fashion show was supposed to mark a new beginning — a dazzling celebration of art, elegance, and rebirth. But as applause thundered and cameras flashed, one crucial face was missing: Brooke Logan. Her absence sparked instant concern in Ridge Forrester’s heart. While others were captivated by the spectacle on stage, Ridge was overwhelmed by an ominous sense of dread. Brooke was scheduled to make a breathtaking appearance in a gown tailored just for her, but as the show reached its climax, she was nowhere in sight.

Ridge’s worry turned into panic. He left his seat and raced backstage, the typically lively corridors eerily silent. As he approached Brooke’s dressing room, a faint wisp of smoke snaking from beneath the door sent chills down his spine. Without a second thought, Ridge charged in — and was met by an inferno. Flames raged through the room, engulfing everything in sight. Amid the chaos, he spotted Brooke, coughing and crawling, barely conscious. Her gown was scorched, her face streaked with soot and fear.

With sheer instinct and desperation, Ridge pulled Brooke to safety. Outside the flames, he cradled her trembling body, demanding answers. “Where’s Taylor?” he pleaded. Brooke’s choked reply shattered him: “She’s dead.”

What was supposed to be a night of triumph became a tragedy of unspeakable magnitude. Taylor Hayes — Ridge’s former love, the mother of his children — was gone. The heartbreak hit like a tidal wave. Ridge tried to rush back into the fire to save her, but it was too late. Security restrained him as firefighters arrived, battling an already devastating blaze.

As Brooke was rushed to the hospital, unconscious and barely clinging to life, questions swirled. What had caused the fire? Why was Taylor in the dressing room? Had it been an accident… or something far more sinister?

Investigators began their probe, but the only person with answers lay motionless in a hospital bed. Ridge waited by Brooke’s side, consumed by grief, guilt, and uncertainty. Meanwhile, chaos erupted at Forrester Creations. The event was canceled. The building was now a crime scene. Taylor’s children, Steffy and Thomas, were devastated and furious. To them, this was more than a tragedy — it was an injustice.

When Brooke finally awoke, the horrifying truth unraveled. She and Taylor had argued just before the fire. Jealous over the gown — one reminiscent of Brooke’s wedding dress with Ridge — Taylor had snapped. In a fit of rage, she had set the dress ablaze. But in that enclosed space, the fire spread uncontrollably. Amid the panic, Taylor suffered a fatal heart attack. Brooke tried to save her but was overcome by smoke. She barely escaped, thanks to Ridge.

Brooke’s confession stunned everyone. Some believed her — like Hope, who defended her mother fiercely. But others, like Steffy, saw only betrayal and blamed Brooke for Taylor’s death.

Forensics confirmed parts of Brooke’s story: the fire started with the gown and appeared intentional — not an accident. But the emotional damage was already done. Ridge was torn between grief and love, truth and loyalty. The fire might have been extinguished, but the flames it ignited in the hearts of the Foresters and Logans burned hotter than ever.