The Bold and the Beautiful recap (Nov. 22): Will Steffy tell Taylor the truth?

Steffy didn’t want to believe that Thomas would lie about the CPS call, but the truth sunk in today on The Bold and the Beautiful. We ended the episode with the two in a battle of wills that was so loud Taylor came running through Douglas’ door wondering what all the commotion was about.

Thomas had been pressing for Steffy to keep quiet, but she wasn’t having it. If there’s one thing about Steffy Forrester that will forever remain true it’s that you don’t tell her what she is and isn’t going to do. It doesn’t matter who you are in her life, if she’s determined to do something she’s doing it with your blessing or not. That’s who she is as a person.

The big question, however, is if she’ll really go through with telling Taylor the truth. It certainly looked like that’s going to be the case given what went down on our soap today. But the show may just flip on us considering Thomas made some fair points in his arguments with his sister, too. Here’s the full rundown of events!

What happened today on The Bold and the Beautiful?

While Finn, Li, and Kelly arrived at the mansion–and Eric asked Ridge yet again if he’s sure about marrying Taylor–Steffy was upstairs listening to the recordings on Douglas’ phone.

She was still having a hard time accepting that Thomas would call CPS on himself in order to put their parents back together but the recordings don’t lie. That’s her brother’s voice and then a deep fake of Brooke’s that’s identical word-for-word. There’s no mistaking what he’s done and the ramifications of his decisions.

He spent his time in the first part of the episode assuring his mom that Ridge chose her because he wants to be with her, but we know the catalyst was a manipulation so great that it could undermine the choice Ridge made.

Things came to a head when Thomas was asked by Taylor to send his sister back into the room and so went downstairs to look for her only to be told that she’s with Douglas. Immediately he knew the jig was possibly up, and he was right because as soon as he walked up to the door, he heard the recording playing.

Disappointed, Thomas called his son’s name, bringing their attention to the doorway. At first, he tried to convince Steffy that this situation was just “kids and their devices” but she wouldn’t let him play that game with her. She reassured Douglas that he’d done the right thing by telling her and told him to go have fun with Amelia, Kelly, and Hayes.

Douglas asserted that he knows that he did what was right but that he wishes his dad saw it that way. The boy has been trying to respect Thomas’ wishes whilst also balancing his sense of fairness so telling his aunt was the best possible outcome that didn’t also put his father on the spot in a way that blindsided him or made him feel attacked.

Thomas told his son to go ahead and follow his aunt’s directions, he even called him “buddy” in an affectionate tone which showed that he didn’t hold Douglas’ actions against him. But when that bedroom door closed, the siblings squared off.

Steffy referred to what Thomas did as cruel, but he didn’t think so and he didn’t want to stand there and act as if his sister actually cares about Brooke’s feelings in all of this. She, however, was referring to the position he’d put her nephew in and how Thomas has created a situation where there father is marrying their mother for the wrong reasons.

Once again Thomas stated that Ridge would have gotten to this point eventually and that Brooke would have hurt him somehow. But the one time she didn’t actually do what she’s been accused of that’s supposed to be the event that sends their dad running back to her? Thomas didn’t buy that but he’s still not willing to risk it hence the empty threats he made toward his sister.

When he told her that she wasn’t going to say anything, Steffy stood tall. Sure, he could try and stop her but she isn’t a woman to be taken lightly and Thomas knows that. Plus, for as much as they’re squabbling in the moment, they both know he’d never actually lay a hand on her. So when Taylor came flying into the room, the ball was firmly placed in Steffy’s court.

She took it and set up her shot, tears welling in her eyes as she admitted that something Thomas did could change their lives forever. Steffy doesn’t want their parents to get married under false pretenses and, if Thomas is right about why Ridge wants to be with Taylor for the rest of his life, then the truth shouldn’t stop this wedding from happening.

The episode ended before Steffy finished what she had to say, but it’s going to be pretty hard for her to spin her clear disturbance into something positive, so I have a feeling Taylor is going to learn the truth before the show goes on break for the holiday.

Elsewhere, at Logan Manor, we got the conclusion to Bill and Katie’s talk. It was good to see Katie call Bill out on the lie he was spinning for her. She did so compassionately, she even shed tears as she recognized how unhappy he is, but she’s putting herself first.

Katie is no longer going to be opening her heart to a man who’s in love with her sister let alone one who would try to manipulate her into getting back with him by hiding his true feelings and actions. She’s proud of the father Bill has become, and she wants nothing but the best for him. She just can’t make him happy, and she knows that he can’t make her happy. Katie won’t be his second choice, not anymore.

It was such a strong scene that Carter coming out from where he’d been hidden, didn’t do much. Katie had already packed Bill up like luggage, all he needed to do was see himself out. But, the verbal spar between Carter and Bill did reveal to the CEO that there is now another man vying for a place in his past love’s heart so, of course, he had to get possessive.

Now she’s “My Katie” and “my wife” again and he’s warning Carter off as if that’s going to get the CFO of Forrester Creations to stop pursuing the women he cares about. It was truly laughable. Katie, however, wasn’t laughing. From her position on the stairs, out of view of her past and her potential future going toe-to-toe, she looked intrigued at the prospect of being fought over.

With a parting shot about his relationship with Katie being none of Bill’s business, Carter grabbed the gorgeous cufflinks he told Ridge he’d get and went off to officiate the wedding like he planned. But, we all know, that was only round one for these two men.

Until next time, Bold fans. Stay beautiful!

Stay tuned to Hidden Remote for more The Bold and the Beautiful news and coverage! New episodes of the soap air Mondays-Fridays on CBS. Evening viewing is available on Paramount+.