Katie Logan has always been a woman who doesn’t hesitate to fight for those she loves.

When someone close to her is wronged, her protective instincts kick in, and this time, it hit far too close to home.

After overhearing a covert conversation between Zendi and Daphne, Katie’s anger simmered as she learned of a calculated scheme that was meant to sabotage Hope and Carter’s blossoming romance. But what shocked her most wasn’t just the betrayal—it was the involvement of Stephanie Forrester and the deceitful actions of Daphne Rose, who played a deeper, more intimate role in Carter’s life than anyone knew.

This web of lies and manipulation left Katie furious, and she was determined to bring the truth to light. As she walked into the Forrester showroom, her anger was palpable, and she wasted no time confronting Daphne. With a trembling voice and a heart full of frustration, Katie called out the woman she knew had played a major part in dismantling Carter and Hope’s connection.

“You knew exactly what you were doing,” Katie spat, her eyes burning with fury. “You used Carter. You exploited Hope’s doubts. You destroyed something real.”

Daphne, on the defensive, tried to explain herself. She claimed that she never intended to hurt anyone, that her feelings for Carter were genuine. But Katie wasn’t buying it. She could see through the manipulation, the careful tactics Daphne had used to infiltrate Carter’s life, all while eroding any hope he had for a future with Hope. Katie’s frustration turned to resolve as she stormed off, her mind set on giving Carter the truth he so desperately needed before he made any more decisions clouded by the lies Daphne and Stephanie had woven.

However, by the time Katie managed to share the full details of the deception with Carter, it felt like it was too late. The damage had already been done, and Carter stood there frozen, his jaw clenched, the weight of betrayal sinking in. The revelation wasn’t a rescue—it was a painful reckoning. Hope, already emotionally distant, had begun to pull away from Carter, and the truth didn’t offer any sense of solace. Instead, it was a post-mortem of a love that was already dying.

When Carter went to Hope, hoping for reconciliation, the coldness in her eyes was enough to break him. She didn’t scream or cry. She didn’t even raise her voice. Hope’s response was eerily calm, as if she had been preparing for this moment for a long time.

“I’m not angry with you,” she said softly, her gaze distant. “I’m angry at Stephanie, at Daphne, but if I’m being honest with myself, I haven’t been all in for a while now.”

Her words were like a knife to Carter’s chest. He tried to argue, to remind her of the laughter they’d shared, the connection they had built. But Hope, her face a mask of sorrow, simply shook her head.

“It’s not about what we had,” she whispered. “It’s about what I no longer feel.”

And just like that, the future Carter had once imagined with Hope slipped away. Watching him walk away, his heart shattered, Katie couldn’t help but feel a mixture of pain and sympathy. Her heart ached for him, but more than that, it stirred something deep within her—a long-buried love for Carter that she had convinced herself was long gone. As she watched him lose everything, Katie realized she could no longer keep pretending that her feelings for him had faded into the past.

That night, as darkness settled over Forrester, Katie found Carter sitting alone in the quiet courtyard, his face weary with sorrow. The soft glow of the garden lights illuminated his features, but it was the despair in his eyes that caught her attention. She approached him slowly, and they sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their unspoken words hanging in the air.

“You deserve more than what Hope gave you,” Katie said softly, her voice carrying a weight of sincerity. “You deserve someone who truly sees you. Someone who has never stopped caring.”

Carter turned to her, surprised, his expression one of confusion and vulnerability. Katie’s gaze never wavered as she met his eyes, a sense of clarity washing over her.

“I tried to bury it, but I still love you,” she confessed, her voice steady despite the tumult of emotions she was feeling. “Maybe I’ve been too scared to say it, but I’m not afraid anymore.”

Carter blinked, shocked by her words, and for a brief moment, Katie wondered if she had made a mistake. Was it too soon? Was he still too broken to consider a future with her?

But before he could respond, Katie spoke again, her words rushing out, as if she couldn’t stop herself.

“I know this isn’t what you expected,” she said, her voice trembling. “But maybe what you need isn’t someone to chase. Maybe what you need has been right here all along.”

The silence that followed was heavy with possibility. Carter stared at her, his mind racing, his heart torn between the remnants of his past with Hope and the pull of something new—something real, something that had been there all along. Grief, regret, and confusion warred within him, but there was something else, too—a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time. It was the ache of longing, the desire for something more, something that might bring him the peace and happiness he had been searching for.

But the question remained: would Carter let go of the fantasy he had clung to with Hope and open his heart to Katie, the woman who had always been there for him? Or would the sting of heartbreak keep him closed off, too afraid to believe in love again?

For Katie, this moment marked a crossroads. She had waited long enough, and now, with the truth laid bare, she knew that she couldn’t keep pretending. She had to either step into the light and embrace her feelings for Carter, or let them fade into the past. But as Carter sat there, lost in thought, Katie couldn’t help but wonder: Would he take her hand and build a future together, or would he choose to walk away, unable to heal from the wounds of the past?

The emotional complexity of this moment leaves fans wondering what will happen next. As Katie finally steps into the light and lays bare her heart, will Carter choose her, or will he remain trapped in the past? The next chapter of their story promises to test old bonds and reveal new desires, and one thing is certain: the drama is far from over.

So, what do you think? Will Carter let go of the past and find solace with Katie, or will the heartbreak of his failed relationship with Hope be too much to overcome? The stage is set for a new chapter in the world of The Bold and the Beautiful, and this love triangle is about to get even more complicated.