Big changes are shaking up The Bold and the Beautiful, and longtime fans will hardly believe the latest developments at Forrester Creations. After a whirlwind return that turned out to be little more than a cameo, Thomas Forrester (played by Matthew Atkinson) seems to have vanished again, leaving both Hope’s fashion line and her personal life hanging in the balance. But just as Thomas disappears from the canvas, a surprising new face is making waves — Deacon Sharpe’s son Dee, newly introduced and already eyeing a future in the glamorous but cutthroat world of fashion.

A Complicated Past for Deacon’s Son
Deacon’s son has a messy history — and longtime fans may remember it. When he was born, he was first called Eric Forrester III because of a tangled web of lies and a paternity scam. Back then, he was presented as the child of Rick Forrester and Amber Moore. The truth, however, was far darker. Rick and Amber’s baby had tragically died, and in the wake of that heartbreak, Amber passed off Becky Moore’s baby as her own. That baby turned out to be Deacon’s biological son.

For years, the boy went by nicknames like Little Eric and Little D, but eventually the truth of his parentage emerged. Now, with the character reintroduced to the canvas, the writers have simplified things: he’s just “Dee” — essentially Deacon Jr. And while his past is rooted in deception, his present looks like it’s about to make him one of the most important new players at Forrester Creations.

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From Boarding School to Fashion School
The last time viewers saw Deacon’s son, he was still a child, making an appearance on The Young and the Restless. At that point, he was preparing to head off to boarding school, asking his father for money to help pave the way. Years have passed since then, and now Dee is a grown man with fresh ambitions.

Fresh out of fashion school and already brimming with talent, Dee has arrived in Los Angeles with a clear goal: to become a designer at Forrester Creations. His timing couldn’t be more dramatic. With Hope’s fashion line on the verge of revival, Dee sees the perfect opportunity to step in — and perhaps fill the gap left behind by Thomas.

Hope for the Future Rises Again
Hope Logan’s beloved line, Hope for the Future, has been through ups and downs over the years. After Thomas left town following her rejection of his second marriage proposal, sales plummeted. Other designers, including Zende and R.J., attempted to carry the line, but the spark was missing. To make matters worse, Steffy Forrester used the downturn as an excuse to cut Hope’s line entirely, a punishment for Hope’s interest in Finn.

But now, thanks to Carter Walton’s intervention, the line is officially back. Carter argued that the company’s customer base needed more variety and that Hope’s creativity had been sidelined for too long. Ridge surprisingly agreed, declaring that Hope was too talented to remain in the shadows. With Steffy away and distracted by her own troubles, the timing was perfect. Hope for the Future is being resurrected — and Hope has Carter to thank.

Carter’s Ulterior Motives
Of course, Carter’s support of Hope’s career isn’t entirely selfless. In recent episodes, his romantic interest in Hope has grown more intense. Right after securing the revival of Hope’s fashion line, Carter shocked viewers by proposing marriage on the spot. He hoped to recreate Ridge and Brooke’s spontaneous wedding-in-the-office moment, but instead of excitement, Hope looked deeply conflicted.

It’s clear that Carter is trying to compete with Liam, Hope’s ex, and sees marriage as a way to secure his place in her life. But Hope isn’t ready — not after everything with Thomas, not while her heart still feels unsettled. Even if she doesn’t outright reject Carter this week, it’s unlikely she’ll accept his rushed proposal. Still, Hope for the Future is back, and Carter can’t revoke his gift without looking controlling. That means, no matter what happens in her love life, Hope’s professional dreams are once again alive.

Thomas’s Disappearance
When Matthew Atkinson briefly returned as Thomas, fans were hopeful he might stick around to work on Hope’s revived line or even rekindle their complicated connection. But his name never reappeared in the contract actor credits, and his latest appearance felt more like a guest spot than a true comeback.

To make matters worse for “Thope” fans, Hope recently admitted to her mother Brooke that she could never fully commit to Thomas because of his role in the devastating baby Beth switch storyline. That confession was a dagger to the heart for anyone rooting for Thomas and Hope. For now, it looks like Thomas is gone for good — at least for the foreseeable future.