Late nights at Forrester Creations had always carried a certain electricity—threads of genius, ego, and glamour woven into every sketch on the walls. But now the building felt different. Heavy. Haunted. Luna Nozawa’s tragic death had cracked the company’s polished veneer, unleashing rumors of corporate negligence and ruthless internal rivalry. What had once been the crown jewel of high fashion was transforming into a battlefield, and at its center stood a devastating clash between Eric Forrester and his son, Ridge.

Eric’s office, once the beating heart of Forrester Creations, had dimmed to a shadow of itself. His iconic sketches remained unfinished; the tremor in his hands made drawing nearly impossible. He clung to an oxygen machine that hissed softly beside him—a reminder that his years were catching up even as his passion refused to die. For Eric, Forrester Creations was more than a business. It was family. Legacy. Art. A promise that elegance still mattered in a world losing its taste for craftsmanship.

Ridge, however, saw a harsher truth. Luna’s scandal had torpedoed their reputation. Investors were wavering, magazines were tearing them apart, and social media had declared the company guilty before it could defend itself. Ridge had spent weeks scrambling to salvage what remained—firing staff, issuing statements, trying to steady sinking numbers. But Forrester Creations was bleeding out. The board demanded action.

Ridge’s solution was drastic: restructure, modernize, and accept outside investment if necessary. Eric called the idea a betrayal. Their heated argument shook the office walls. Ridge insisted the company would die without help. Eric insisted the company would die if its soul were sold. Neither could convince the other.

By morning, the boardroom reflected that same fracture. Thomas, carrying guilt from past mistakes, supported Ridge’s push for reinvention. Steffy fought fiercely on Eric’s side, arguing that Forrester Creations would lose its identity if they allowed outsiders to buy influence. Into this already frayed environment walked Bill Spencer—uninvited, unapologetic. He offered salvation wrapped in chains: Spencer Publications would rescue Forrester financially in exchange for significant control. Ridge recognized the trap immediately. Brooke warned him that letting Bill in meant surrendering everything that made the company theirs.

Amid the chaos, Eric’s health deteriorated. Stress tightened around him like a vise, but he refused to miss the crucial shareholder vote. Wrapped in a blanket, looking older than ever, he entered the boardroom for what felt like a final stand.

The storm outside mirrored the storm inside. Ridge argued for innovation. Eric pleaded for preservation. Bill pushed paperwork forward, urging a partnership. Then, as Eric reached for the documents, his body betrayed him. His chest seized, his words cut off, and he collapsed as the room erupted in panic. Paramedics arrived, rushing him into intensive care. Rumors swirled—had the stress killed him, or had someone driven him over the edge?

Ridge spent the night by his father’s hospital bed, realizing too late that his desire to save the company might cost him the man who built it. Bill moved quickly to delay the vote out of “respect,” though everyone recognized the strategy behind the sympathy. Brooke confronted him, warning that he saw profit where others saw pain.

In the days that followed, the Forrester family fractured and reformed in new ways. Thomas returned to Ridge’s side. Steffy vowed to protect the company’s essence. Yet Eric’s uncertain future cast a shadow across every decision. Ridge faced the impossible choice Brooke had predicted: sign Bill’s deal and sacrifice Eric’s dream, or refuse—and risk losing everything, including the man he was trying to honor.

Either choice could destroy the dynasty.