Steffy and Hope’s truce looks to be waning on The Bold and the Beautiful. The pair’s disagreement over Deacon and Taylor’s relationship is a sore spot that could worsen. While they don’t have to agree with each other to keep the peace, Hope telling Deke she won’t be bullied by Steffy is a sign that old resentments are resurfacing. If they are, the time out the ladies have taken from their decade-long feud would be at its end.
Key Takeaways
- Why Hope is airing her grievances now
- How Steffy’s past decisions are informing the present
- Speculation on if their compromise will hold
READ: Should B&B’s Katie Forget About Eric And Hire Deke?
Hope Won’t Let The Past Go
It’s been some months since Forrester Creations decided not to renew Deke’s (Harrison Cone) contract as a Hope for the Future designer. In that time, he hasn’t found work in his field. That’s starting to weigh on Hope (Annika Noelle). Her frustration with his stalled career leads her to reflect on the unfairness of his departure. As co-CEO, it’s Steffy’s right to decide who’s employed at the company, but Hope still carries resentment for having to be the one to fire her own brother.
Her feelings on the matter slipped into their dispute over their parents. The two weren’t discussing business; they were talking about the dangerous implications of Taylor (Rebecca Budig) having an affair with Deacon (Sean Kanan). But because Steffy demanded that Hope stop trying to convince her father to pursue the relationship, Hope didn’t hold back when she told her that she’s tired of being dictated to.
Hope has maintained that Steffy has bullied her time and time again. Their history is fraught with standoffs, typically over HFTF, Liam (Scott Clifton), Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang), or Finn (Tanner Novlan). And, while it’s true Steffy has been a bully in the past, her making her position clear on what she won’t tolerate when it comes to Taylor isn’t bullying. However, for Hope, it’s yet another push for her to fall in line and do what she’s told. Hope has grown tired of this pattern.
A Fragile Compromise
Hope stood her ground against Steffy. She refused to acquiesce to the demand that she and Deke stop encouraging their father to leave Sheila (Kimberlin Brown) for Taylor. At least, not without Steffy having to accept her terms. They wouldn’t try to persuade Deacon if Steffy also stopped dissuading Taylor. Steffy had said she didn’t care if Deacon got a divorce, as long as her mother wasn’t in the middle of it.
It seemed Steffy conceded Hope’s point, but it’s hard to believe that their agreement will hold. Steffy is terrified that Sheila will hurt her mother, but Hope doesn’t want to focus on the danger. She pressed Steffy on why she could only see the worst-case scenario. Steffy had to remind her that she lived it. Sheila shot Steffy and Finn and left them for dead. She has since apologized and tried to make amends, but it’s one of the reasons Steffy will never trust her changed heart.
If Deacon confides to his children that he can’t see a future with Sheila anymore and wants Taylor, they’ll encourage him to leave. They’re likely to champion a possible future with Taylor in the process. On the flip side, if Taylor tells Steffy she feels she can no longer deny Deacon, she’ll push hard to make sure their romance doesn’t happen. Or make good on her ultimatum, Taylor will be cut off from her family. Either scenario would put Hope and Steffy once more at odds.
Hope and Steffy’s truce is holding for now, but they’re on thin ice with each other. Taylor being hurt or threatened by Sheila over Deacon, especially if Hope encouraged their union, would bring their feud back to the forefront of B&B.
