The Bold and the Beautiful recap (Aug. 23): Hope breaks up with Thomas

Surprising no one, at the barest hint that Liam may take her back Hope rushed over to Thomas’ to break his heart on The Bold and the Beautiful. Her excuse was that her husband reminded her of all that they’d went through because of Thomas’ decision to keep the fact that their daughter Beth was alive a secret.

Thomas’ choice was cruel, manipulative, and a ploy to keep a grieving Hope married to him when it was obvious the truth would leave him without the woman he’d become obsessed with while in the midst of his own grief due to the loss of his son’s mother, Caroline. Since then, however, he has grown immensely which he stated to Hope and she did acknowledge but she now has reservations.

This, apparently, was a 180 because these two have been spending nights together for weeks. As Thomas reminded Hope, she pursued him. But he did concede that he really could only do one thing which was to let her go if that’s what she wants. All he’s ever wanted for Hope is to be happy and if that means attempting to patch things up with Liam for the sake of Beth, then so be it.

Hope took Thomas up on his offer because she wants the opportunity to make up for all the hurt she’s caused even if it does, of course, mean she’ll have to hurt him in order to do it. The break up was amicable despite Thomas’ disappointment because he does love Hope immensely, this is also how he’s showing her how deeply he loves her and how that will never change.

What happened on The Bold and the Beautiful today?

Meanwhile at the Forrester Mansion, Liam was explaining to Steffy that his talk with Hope about who Thomas “really” is didn’t mean he was trying to get his marriage back on track. Yes, you read that right. Liam does think he got through to Hope but his desire for her not to have a relationship with Thomas and to choose better for herself wasn’t motivated by wanting to be romantically involved with her again.

He told Steffy that two things can be true. He can want better for Hope and for her to return to being the person that he knows her to be and still be struggling with his own feelings. Liam has been pursuing Steffy, he’s navigating those feelings and his wonder over how he could have left her in the first place.

Steffy was taken aback because she thought Liam getting Hope to see the error of her ways meant that he was ready to forgive her and repair his marriage but that’s not the case. Too bad no one told Hope or Brooke that because the latter was crowing at Forrester Creations that Hope and Liam would be finding their way back together.

She shared with Ridge and RJ that Liam talked with Hope, reminding her of what Thomas had done. Brooke saw that discussion moved her daughter to take action and she bet that she was over at Thomas’ ending things. Ridge was trying to follow Brooke’s reasoning considering, as he put it without spilling the beans to RJ, that Hope and Thomas had grown closer not to mention Hope had said that Steffy had been in the middle of their marriage since day 1.

Brooke hand waved both points away, pointing out that Hope came to her senses and that unconsciously she’d been using the issue of Liam’s feelings for Steffy as excuse for her own behavior. She acknowledged that it would need to be addressed but was content in thinking that everything was going to be as she hoped it would be with Hope and Liam. RJ recognized that Hope had chosen her family but Ridge was still rightfully skeptical about a reunion since Liam will always love Steffy.

We’ll have to see if Liam tells Hope as much. He came back to the cabin after receiving her text and was surprised to learn that Hope wanted see if they could try again. What he doesn’t know is that she ended her relationship with Thomas to do this and that she’s sitting on a pretty big secret of her own that Ridge and Brooke both know as well.

Before their parting embrace, Thomas promised Hope that he wouldn’t tell Liam that they’ve been intimate with one another but that cat isn’t likely to stay in the bag for long, this is a soap opera after all. So whether Liam is honest about his desire to be with Steffy or he stays quiet on that in order to work on his marriage with Hope, it’s doubtful Lope’s relationship is going to be smooth sailing.

As for Steffy, she received another text from Finn telling her that he misses her and that he wants to see her. Sinn’s reunion is also in question. Until next time, Bold fans. Stay beautiful!

New episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful stream on Paramount+. For this week’s spoilers, click here.