Thomas hugs Hope and tells her life is right here and she just needs to walk into it. She has to decide to move on as Liam is with Steffy and the girls just as she wanted. So do something for herself; chose him. Steffy tells her dad over the phone that now that the annulment papers are done Liam has moved in. She tells Liam that she is glad he is back. Brooke sees some sketches by Thomas that he has done as head designer for HFTF. Then he tells her he does have some news she might not like. Brooke is indeed not happy to hear that Liam moved back into Steffy's to be full time dad just as Hope wanted. She says Hope has made one mistake after another and she does not want her to wake up one day and realize this is another huge one. Thomas returns to the office and all pounce on him if he told Steffy the truth. He says no and neither are Flo, Zoe and Xander. They are to say nothing ever. Brooke tells Ridge that he has been spending a lot of late nights at the office and he needs to pull back a little and rest. He agrees that while he likes working he could get tickets and they could get away for a while. Still Brooke says Thomas has had a troubled past and it would be a little unsettling to leave her here alone with Thomas. Perhaps the trip could wait til later. Hope calls Liam and says she heard the news she wanted. She asks a favor that he keep sending pictures of he and the girls. Brooke thinks that is crazy, just torturing herself. Xander chides Thomas for not telling Steffy like he said he would. Thomas says he intended to but then saw Liam and Steffy parenting their sweet little family and it seemed so right. Liam sends pictures and Hope looks at them with Ridge and Brooke. She says Phoebe still triggers something in her that she thought she only had for Beth. Thomas stands and chews the others out. They are not to say a word. The future has been planned. Call it what you want. Steffy may be CEO now but he is the firstborn; Forrester is his birthright and he and Hope will be heading up the company. If they spill the truth then Zoe will go to prison and perhaps even Flo so if they wish to have any future at all they better zip their lip and go along with this. Xander is the only one strong enough to say Thomas is not doing this for Hope or for Douglas but for himself. Thomas stares them in the face and says they will keep their mouths quiet. He used to hate the word destiny that his dad said about going from his mother back to Brooke, but now he understands. He thinks Hope is his destiny. One by one he goes around the room and asks Zoe if she will keep quiet or send her father to prison. She says she won't tell. Then he asks Flo if she likes her job and having Wyatt back in her life. He won't be when he finds out this secret. She will keep quiet. Xander tells him that he does not have prison to hold over his head so he can threaten all he wants, even fire him from his job. Thomas says when he is done with him he will wish he was in prison. Later he tells the ladies that Thomas is not in love with Hope; he is obsessed with her. Thomas goes back and finds Hope looking over the phone photos and asks what she is doing. She says the pictures are not unnerving, she enjoys them. She looks around and goes to two wedding pictures and turns them down. At same time Thomas takes her phone and deletes a photo. He hugs her and Brooke happens to walk up and sees him.
Thomas: Life's right here. It's waiting for you. All you have to do is walk into it. We can be a family. You, me, and douglas. We can be happy. Hope: I-I just thought we agreed to see where this goes. I don't know what I want, thomas. Thomas: I think you do. You just have to admit it. Choose joy instead of pain. Hope: You think it's a choice? Thomas: I do. But you -- you have to decide to move on. Liam did. When he went to be with steffy and the girls. That's what you wanted. Now want something for yourself. Your future's right here in front of you. Choose it. Choose me. Ridge: How is life at chateau steffy? Steffy: Uh, it's changing. Ridge: Well, you got little ones running around. It makes sense. Steffy: It's not just the girls anymore. Now that hope and liam's annulment is official, I asked him to move back in. Ridge: Really? And? Steffy: He accepted. He's in the nursery with the girls. Ridge: Well, that's great news for you, kelly, and phoebe. I'm, uh, just not sure my wife will agree. [ Door opens ] Steffy: Liam's coming out. I got to go. Ridge: All right. Go. Liam: [ Sighs ] They're both down. Steffy: It's nice to have a baby whisperer in the house. Liam: Yeah, like you need my help. Steffy: I'm really glad you're back. Brooke: Thomas'? Ridge: Yeah. What do you think? Brooke: It's a little edgy for hope for the future. Ridge: Well, he's the new lead designer, so he wants to shake things up. Brooke: As long as he doesn't lose sight of what hope for the future stands for. Ridge: I don't think hope would let that happen. There is something you should know. Brooke: Uh-oh. [ Sighs ] I know that tone. How much will I hate it? Steffy: You gonna be okay in the guest room? Liam: Yeah, the guest room's great. But a guest has to earn his keep, so... [Sighs] Put me to work. You know, I want to help out around here. Steffy: Don't think I won'T. Liam: Please do. Use me. Abuse me. Really. Steffy: What, make it so you don't have to think? Liam: And, yeah, if you could -- if you could pull that off, that'd be nice, too. Steffy: Look, I, um... I know you're hurting. I know the annulment wasn't your choice. Liam: Uh, no. No, it wasn'T. Steffy: Just don't feel like you have to censor yourself on my account. Like, I totally understand if hope is on your mind. Brooke: I was hoping that this wouldn't happen. Ridge: I know. [ Sighs ] But liam moving in with steffy, being a full-time dad, that's what your daughter wants. Brooke: Hope hasn't been thinking clearly since beth died. She's been making mistake after mistake. And I just don't want her to wake up one morning full of regret. Ridge: She's a grown woman. She's got to make her own decisions, whether you like it or not. Brooke: I know. I know. It's just, she's my daughter, and I will always worry. Ridge: Come here. Brooke: She's been through so much. I just wish that something could take her pain away. Zoe: This can't be good. Thomas summoning us here? I mean... what if he told steffy and hope about beth? Xander: I hope he did. Flo: At least it would finally be out of our hands. Zoe: And into the hands of the police. Wonderful. Xander: What happened? Flo: Did you tell hope and steffy? Thomas: No. Xander: Well, when are you going to? Thomas: I won't be revealing phoebe's true identity, not to steffy or to hope. And neither will you. Not a word. Not ever. Ridge: Being concerned about our kids is never gonna go away. But we got to be careful that we don't get lost in somebody else's lives. We need some attention, too. Brooke: I've been thinking. Ridge: Uh-oh. Brooke: [ Chuckles ] You've been working some late nights. Ridge: Well, it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Brooke: You put in a lot of time there, mentoring and designing and running that company. Ridge: Mm-hmm. Brooke: Don't you think you might want to pull back a little? I mean, we could have some quality time together. We could travel the world. Have adventures. Ridge: Yeah? Brooke: Yeah. Ridge: Okay. Let's do it. Brooke: [ Laughs ] Really? Ridge: Yeah. Brooke: Really? Ridge: I'm gonna call your bluff right now. If I went and bought tickets, you would just pack your bags and leave everything here? Brooke: Uh... I'm just...worried about leaving hope here while she's in this fragile emotional state. Ridge: And I like working. I like my job. A sabbatical right now would not be right. And thomas being here and raising douglas by himself, I think he needs me. And... Brooke: Mm. Ridge: Look at this. He's getting really good. This is what we call a breakthrough, I think, right? With him doing this job at hope for the future, I mean, this could be a really big deal for him. He needs that. Brooke: [ Sighs ] Ridge: He's the heir apparent. Brooke: What? I thought it was steffy. Ridge: Yes -- I mean, yes, steffy is gonna run the company. She's amazing. She's got a great eye. But thomas, he's the designer. Brooke: Uh... he's good. Ridge: There's a "but." What -- what is it? Brooke: I have my reservations about him being back in the middle. He's had a troubled past. And now he wants to be back with hope again? It's just unsettling. [ Sinister music plays ] Flo: Wait, what?! You can't be serious! Xander: You didn't tell steffy or hope that beth is alive? Thomas: I just told you, no. Xander: What happened? Thomas: [ Sighs ] I went over to steffy'S. To tell her the truth. And I saw her and liam being parents to kelly and phoebe, and -- and they're a family now, those four. It's a beautiful thing. Now that liam's moved back in. Zoe: Um, that was fast. Thomas: Yeah, well, why should he wait? His marriage to hope is over. Flo: It wouldn't be if they knew the truth! Thomas: [ Sighs ] Flo: This is so wrong. Hope: It's liam's first night with steffy and the girls. Brooke: How do you feel about that? Hope: Happy. Brooke: Hope. Hope: No, I mean it, mom. I wanted liam to be a full-time father, and kelly and phoebe, they need him. And he's lucky to get to spend all that time with those girls. Especially phoebe. I miss her. So much. Actually, uh... heh... [ Dialing ] Liam: As soon as they wake up, I can take them to the beach, and then you can sleep in. [ Cellphone rings ] It's hope. Steffy: Take it. Liam: Hey. Everything okay? Hope: Yeah. Um, that's actually why I'm calling. Um... you did the right thing, liam. Liam: I take it you heard I'm staying at steffy'S. Hope: Yes. And that's exactly what I wanted. Um... can I ask you a favor? Liam: Yeah. Anything. You know that. Hope: Could you just... could you keep sending pictures of you and the girls? Liam: Uh, are you sure? Hope: It will help me through this. Seeing you and the girls together as a family. Liam: I -- I mean, yeah. Of course, if you feel that strongly about it. Hope: I do. So, have a good night. Heh. Give phoebe a kiss from auntie hope. Liam: Okay. [ Cellphone beeps ] Uh, hope wants more pictures of me and the girls. Steffy: You think that's wise? Liam: I don't know. But she seemed really insistent. Brooke: You asked liam to send you pictures of the girls from steffy's? Honey, what do you want to do? You want to torture yourself? Hope: No, it's just the opposite. Seeing phoebe -- both of the girls with liam, in their home environment, knowing that they're gonna be living their best life with him there... it makes me happier than anything. Welcome to saturday. Liam: So... hope must have known that phoebe was particularly photogenic tonight. Steffy: Oh, let me see. [ Gasps ] [ Both chuckle ] Look at her face! Liam: It's almost like phoebe knew it was for hope. Brooke: It's not too late to fix this. You and liam can remarry. [ Cellphone chimes ] Hope: Oh! Liam sent some photos. Brooke: Oh, let's see. Oh, my gosh. So adorable! Hope: So, here he is with kelly. Brooke: [ Laughs ] That's cute. Hope: Ohhh! Look at the way phoebe looks at him. Brooke: Aww. Hope: They love him so much. Brooke: That is so cute. Brooke: What? Hope: Just phoebe. She just triggers something in me. Something that I thought was only for beth. Xander: Three words. "Phoebe is beth." That's all it would take. Flo: This would change hope's life. She has suffered enough. She deserves to know the truth. Thomas: I don't have to justify anything to the three of you. I'm telling you how it's going to be. No one will know that beth is alive. Xander: Wow. Thomas: Look, I'm not saying I'm happy about it, but tragedies happen. They don't get magically undone. You have to pick yourself up and keep moving forward, and that is exactly what hope's going to do. It's been decided. Flo: By you?& Thomas: By the universe. By fate. Flo: [ Sighs ] Thomas: Look, maybe caroline dying, maybe there was a reason for that. And your father, what he did, maybe there was a reason for that, too. Flo: You honestly believe all of that? Thomas: Everything is a stepping stone leading to an eventual, inevitable outcome. A future of hope, douglas, and me. And for the three of you, it could be your path to success, working with hope and me on the line. If you make smart choices. Xander: Let me guess -- if we go along with you. Thomas: Look, steffy may be co-C.E.O. For now, but I am the future of this company. I'm the designer. I'm the firstborn. Forrester is my birthright. Hope and I will rule this company together. Besides, you're in too deep. You can't go back now. Flo: You say you love hope. Thomas: I do. Flo: Then how could you do this to her? Xander: Because he's not thinking about hope. Or douglas. Or the girls. Thomas is all about himself. Thomas: Okay, do I need to remind you what happens if this all comes out? You're girlfriend goes to prison, okay? And you. What happens if wyatt finds out about what you did to his brother? I don't think "hate" is too strong of a word. Xander: You're threatening us? Thomas: If you talk, there will be consequences. Prison. Scandal. Ostracism. Your futures will be non-existent. Oh, but your consciences will be clear. Is that a tradeoff you can live with? Is it? Thomas: You know, every time my father would leave my mother to go back to brooke, he would say it was his destiny. And that used to hurt like hell. But now I feel like I understand. I have a destiny, too. Xander: You mean hope? You two weren't involved that long, and that was years ago. Thomas: I don't answer to you. It's the other way around. So here's the deal. You're all gonna keep your mouths shut, and I'll make sure you reach whatever goals you have set for yourselves here at forrester. Xander: And if we refuse, we'll never work in this town again is basically what you're saying. Thomas: Look, this started out bad, I admit it. But what seemed like an insurmountable tragedy can turn into a blessing. Look, I know you don't want to see your father go to prison. Zoe: Of course not. Thomas: Well, then, you have no other choice. You keep the secret. Zoe: I will. Thomas: And you. You got a great future here. Right? A new family. Limitless career potential. You and wyatt could start your own family soon. But all that goes away if he finds out what you did, and you're convicted as an accomplice. Xander: I'm not a part of this. Your threats of prison hold no power over me, so now what? Thomas: You'll keep quiet like the rest. Xander: [ Scoffs ] You gonna take my job? Fight me? Thomas: Yes. And I will systematically destroy zoe's life. I will make sure her and her father go to prison for as long as possible, and nothing good happens to them once they're out. And as for you, oh, you'll wish you were in prison. Safe behind bars from me. Zoe: Xander, please. Xander: For zoe. Thomas: Smart man. Then we're all agreed. Ridge: I think hope and thomas would be good together now that her relationship with liam is over. Brooke: They're not over. Not in their hearts. Ridge: [ Sighs ] I think they both deserve a second chance. They've been through a lot. I mean, look -- look what thomas has been through. Brooke: I know. But... [ Sighs ] Ridge: But what? Brooke: [ Sighs ] I mean, it's hard to talk about, ridge. He's your son. I just...get a very strange feeling from him. It's really troubling, all of this intensity that he has towards hope. At a very vulnerable time. Liam: [ Sighs ] Xander: What the hell just happened? Zoe: Thomas forrester. And he's not playing around. Okay? He could do exactly what he said he'd do, and destroy all of our lives. Xander: We just made a deal with the devil. Thomas isn't just in love with hope. He's obsessed with her. Hope: [ Gasps ] Thomas: What are you doing? Hope: Oh... [ Sniffles ] I didn't even hear you come in. It'S... it's just a photo liam sent me. Thomas: Put it away. Hope: I'm sorry? Thomas: Put the phone down, hope. Hope: It's okay. Really. I'm -- heh. It's not making me upset. It brings me joy, seeing phoebe. It's not bittersweet, liam being with steffy, even though [Sobs quietly] That's what I wanted all along. Heh... Thomas: Hope... it's okay. I'm here. I'm here. Hope: [ Chuckles ] [ Sniffles ] I'm sorry. [ Sniffling ] [ Sinister music plays ]