Thomas Places His Ring…Next to Hope’s Heart

The Bold and the Beautiful recap for Tuesday, January 2, 2024, featured Hope answering Thomas’s proposal. Was it an out-and-out rejection? Or something kinder and gentler?

Bold and the Beautiful Recap Highlights

In addition, Brooke relished being on the same page with Steffy regarding Hope and Thomas. Xander continued to try to convince Finn that Thomas murdered Emma. Brooke and Ridge debated the Thomas/Hope situation-ship. And Finn told his wife about his conversation with Xander.

Pros, Cons, and Proposals

Thomas (Matthew Atkinson) proposed and Hope’s (Annika Noelle) initial reaction was one of shock. Well, maybe shock is an understatement; she seemed completely caught off guard, blindsided even. But Thomas explained that she’s known about his deep love he’s had for her. Especially since he’s told her over and over again.

As for Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood), they were completely on the same page when it came to Hope and Thomas’s situation-ship. That Hope was a drug for the talented designer. Although, instead of “drug,” Steffy used the word “kryptonite.”

READ THIS: Find out what’s happening next on The Bold and the Beautiful.

Another perspective came from Ridge (Thorsten Kaye). He felt Steffy and Brooke needed to have faith in Hope and Thomas. Unsurprisingly, they didn’t think that was going to happen because, ultimately, Hope will end things with Thomas. And then you know what’s going to happen. All Hell — and maybe a screw or two — will break loose.

Later, Hope responded to Thomas’s proposal cautiously, kindly, and gently. She said she couldn’t accept his proposal because she was not ready to make that level of commitment. However, she was touched by everything he was saying, everything that he was feeling. She wanted to take this time to figure out who she was and what her future looks like.

Murderer or Just Misunderstood?

At the hospital, Xander (Adain Bradley, find out 7 things to know about the actor here) tried to convince Finn (Tanner Novlan) that Thomas was a murderer. He revealed Thomas was responsible for the car crash that killed his fellow intern Emma Barber (Nia Soux).

Initially, Finn couldn’t believe it. He said he was well aware of what Thomas was capable of but he didn’t think ending a life was on that long list. Xander explained he was exactly capable of something like that. After all, he was capable of hiding a baby from its parents. So it’s not that large a leap to murder.

After Steffy left, Ridge brought up how Brooke sounded like Stephanie (Susan Flannery) when they first started dating. They both admitted they weren’t perfect, although Brooke didn’t think Ridge was anything like Thomas. She didn’t want to sound selfish but she wanted to protect Hope and, even, Thomas.

For his part, Ridge speculated that maybe Hope and Thomas being together was their destiny. Stranger things have happened. Yes, he was once concerned, but at this point they needed to let them work it out on their own. And what if Hope actually ended up falling in love with Thomas? Brooke doesn’t think that will ever happen.

Grand Gestures and Awful Accusations

It was all heart eyes for Thomas as he said he understood where Hope was coming from. But he had one request, one more grand gesture, if you will. Until she’s ready to put it on her finger, he wanted her to keep his ring next to her heart. So he placed the ring on her necklace. He claimed he didn’t want her to feel any pressure, however. He can wait until she’s ready to give him a proper answer.

Finally, in his office, Finn relayed his strange conversation with Xander to Steffy. He recalled the freaked out guy making a serious accusation against Thomas. Steffy let her husband know Xander was one of the people involved in keeping the Baby Beth secret, which was new information to Finn. But Steffy said she knew this awful action was Thomas’s biggest regret and that it still haunted him to this day. But she felt he’s grown and changed and Hope has forgiven him, too. Finn let Steffy know the details of Xander’s accusation — he said Thomas was a murderer!

The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS. For an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.

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