Ridge lies to Eric and Steffy comes home on Bold and the Beautiful (Nov. 2)

The crux of today’s episode of The Bold and the Beautiful was whether or not Ridge would lie to his father, Eric, about the true winner of their fashion showdown. Wednesday’s episode revealed that Ridge had won. He’d been confident that it would be him, so confident that it came across arrogant. At first, Carter let him sweat, giving the impression that perhaps he’d jumped the gun, and then his best friend told him he was right. He won.

Ridge’s excitement over that news was short-lived because RJ had to tell him that Eric was dying. So, once Eric and Donna entered the room, the ball was in Ridge’s court regarding whether to be truthful about the fashion show’s results. After being repeatedly asked by his dad who won, Ridge told him that “the master” did. Eric was delighted.

The pair shook hands and, in all honesty, Eric’s excitement must have blinded him to his son’s clear heartbreak because there was nothing but sorrow in Ridge’s eyes as he held his dad’s hand. Eric gave Ridge encouraging words about his collection, telling him that it was sublime. Then he asked his son if he now understood why it was so important to him that he won. Ridge acknowledged that he did, but it was clear the two were talking about the same thing and yet weren’t.

Eric was talking about his vitality and the need to hold tight to it in the face of his pending death which he assumes Ridge doesn’t know about. Ridge was talking about Eric’s health and his desire to ensure nothing worsens his condition and he knows his father isn’t aware he has been told the truth. They’re both holding secrets now, the question is how long they’ll be able to do that.

Currently, Luna and Katie are out of the loop on The Bold and the Beautiful because they were carrying on their own conversation about Eric in the room the showdown took place. But it won’t be long before RJ tells Luna that his dad lied to his grandfather and either Brooke or Carter will tell Katie about that as well, meaning a lot of people are going to be in on keeping Eric in the dark about who really won.

Meanwhile, over at the Cliff House, Finn got quite the happy surprise.

Steffy returns to The Bold and the Beautiful to fight for her family

For a man supposedly determined to get his family back, Finn didn’t actually do much while Steffy and the kids were in Rome. But, never one to be rescued, Steffy took it upon herself to come home and fight the good fight. With Kelly and Hayes in tow, she ushered warmth and family back into Finn’s life, telling him they were there to stay.

After Kelly presented him with the card she and Hayes made, and Finn got to spend some time with the kids, Sinn had a private moment alone while they waited for the babysitter to come pick their little ones up. It was during this scene that Steffy explained to him that she wasn’t going to let Sheila keep her from him or interrupt their lives anymore. She’s always been a fighter and running away to Rome didn’t feel like herself.

As a fan, that’s all well and good, but I’m going to need a deeper reason for her return. I hope Steffy’s version of getting into the ring with Sheila actually includes a means of getting her nemesis to stay away. The cyclical conversations we were treated to before Jacqueline McInnes Wood went on maternity leave aren’t going to cut it.

Also, I’m dying for them to circle back to Liam’s voicemail. Did Steffy get it? If she didn’t does that mean she’s going to be blindsided by Deacon and Sheila’s romance? How will that affect her happiness about being reunited with Finn? If she did get it, does that mean Liam’s about to get an earful about respecting her marriage? I’m on the edge of my seat. I need to know!

Perhaps Friday’s episode will shed more light on this plot. Until next time, Bold fans. Stay beautiful.

New episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful stream on Paramount+.