The Forrester estate was dressed in elegance that afternoon—flowers lined the aisles, candles flickered along the walls, and guests filled the seats in anticipation of what was meant to be a beautiful new chapter for Ridge and Taylor. The music played softly, the air buzzing with excitement, but beneath the grandeur lurked a storm waiting to break. Everyone believed this was the day Ridge would finally move forward, that he would choose Taylor and leave the chaos of Brooke’s world behind. But Ridge’s heart, torn between love and loyalty, could not silence the truth that weighed upon him.

Taylor walked slowly toward him, her gown flowing with grace, her smile trembling with joy and hope. She had dreamt of this moment, of finally reclaiming the love she had lost so many times before. Her eyes glistened as they met Ridge’s, but she didn’t see the storm brewing behind them. Ridge’s jaw was tight, his expression distant, as if each step she took toward him drove a dagger deeper into his conflicted heart.

When the minister began to speak, Ridge’s breathing grew shallow. His mind replayed every memory—his love for Taylor, their family, their shared history. But then Brooke’s face intruded into his thoughts: her laughter, her tears, the countless moments they had shared through years of passion and pain. He couldn’t shake her from his heart, no matter how much he wanted to. The weight of it all pressed on his chest until finally, he couldn’t breathe under the lie.

“Stop,” Ridge said suddenly, his voice cutting through the ceremony like a blade. The room fell into stunned silence, whispers rippling through the guests. Taylor froze, her smile fading as fear crept into her eyes. Ridge stepped forward, his voice trembling with emotion but clear. “I can’t do this. I can’t marry you, Taylor.”

Gasps echoed around the room. Taylor’s bouquet slipped from her hands, falling to the floor as her world shattered in an instant. “What are you saying?” she whispered, her voice breaking.

Ridge’s eyes filled with regret. “I thought I could move forward. I thought this was right—for us, for our family. But it isn’t fair to you. My heart… it’s still torn. And if I walk down this aisle, I’ll be lying to you and to myself.”

Taylor’s breath caught in her throat, devastation washing over her. The pain was unbearable, but pride and desperation fueled her response. She shook her head, stepping closer. “No, Ridge. Don’t do this. Don’t throw away what we have, what we’ve built. We’ve fought too hard to get here.” Her voice grew stronger, her determination blazing. “I won’t let you walk away from me again.”

The guests shifted uncomfortably, the tension thick in the room. Steffy’s eyes widened in shock, while Thomas clenched his fists, his face flushing red with rage. He had waited for this moment, believed this wedding would finally unite his family and free them from Brooke’s shadow. But now, seeing his father waver, seeing his mother humiliated, Thomas could no longer hold back.

“This is all Brooke’s fault!” Thomas exploded, his voice thundering through the hall. All eyes turned to him as he pointed accusingly at Brooke, who sat among the guests, her face pale with shock. “You just couldn’t let them be happy, could you? You’ve been manipulating him, pulling his strings, poisoning his mind like you always do!”

Brooke rose from her seat, her eyes wide, her voice trembling. “Thomas, that’s not true. I didn’t do anything this time. I came here to support Ridge, nothing more.”

“Lies!” Thomas roared, his anger spilling uncontrollably. “You’ve been tearing this family apart for years! Every time my parents find their way back to each other, you swoop in and destroy it. You don’t care about us—you only care about yourself and your obsession with Ridge.”

“Enough!” Ridge barked, his voice echoing through the hall. But the damage was already done. The fragile threads holding the Forrester family together had snapped, and chaos erupted.

Taylor, her face streaked with tears, turned toward Ridge again, desperation burning in her eyes. “Don’t listen to her. Don’t let her win again. I know you love me, Ridge. I know you do. Please, don’t walk away.”

But Ridge’s face was unreadable, his heart torn apart. He couldn’t deny the bond he shared with Brooke, nor the love that lingered despite all the pain. And as he looked at Taylor, devastated but unyielding, he realized no choice he made would heal the wounds already inflicted.

Steffy rushed to her mother’s side, her voice firm. “Mom, let’s go. We don’t need this humiliation. You deserve better than to beg for love.” But Taylor shook her head, refusing to move. “No. I won’t give up. Not this time. I won’t let Brooke take him from me again.”

The tension reached its breaking point as Thomas stepped closer to Brooke, his eyes blazing with fury. “Stay away from him. Stay away from all of us. You’ve done enough damage!” His voice cracked with emotion, his rage born not just from the ruined wedding, but from years of resentment building inside him.

Brooke held her ground, her own eyes filled with tears. “I love Ridge. I always have, and I always will. But I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t tell him to stop the wedding. That was his choice.” She turned to Ridge, her voice soft but resolute. “Tell them, Ridge. Tell them the truth. You still love me.”

The room went silent again, all eyes on Ridge. His chest rose and fell heavily, his mind torn between two women, two lives, two versions of himself. He looked at Taylor—beautiful, loyal, and broken—and then at Brooke, the woman who had owned his heart for decades. And in that silence, everyone knew the truth: no matter what he chose, the Forrester family would never be the same again.

The ceremony was over, but the drama had only just begun.