Today’s The Bold and the Beautiful recap for October 23, 2023, finds Eric getting awful news, Katie learning an awful truth, and RJ having a hard time keeping an awful secret from his parents.

Eric Is In Serious Condition

At the Forrester mansion, Eric (John McCook) was hard at work deciding in what order his designs should head down the runway. He told Donna (Jennifer Gareis) that he was grateful for RJ’s (Joshua Hoffman) help and felt like he was almost ready for the big show. Sadly, a coughing fit came on just as Katie (Heather Tom) walked in the door.

Katie was immediately concerned, but Eric brushed it off. When Eric left the room, Katie questioned Donna to see what was really going on with her friend. Donna would only say that Eric was under stress so Katie pushed some more. She didn’t understand why Eric kept saying this was his last collection.

Eric soon returned and reminded Donna that they had a doctor’s appointment so Katie left and Eric thanked Donna for keeping his secret. When the doctor arrived, he gave Eric a grave diagnosis — off-screen. All we saw on-screen was a hysterical Donna wanting to see a specialist.

The doctor advised Eric to take it easy and give up on the fashion show, but Eric refused. He was going to debut his final collection no matter what. Donna was horrified to know Eric was going to go on with the show despite his declining health. Eric announced he didn’t care if it killed him.

As Donna cried her eyes out, Eric announced that it didn’t matter that a doctor said he was going to die. He would be with Donna and design his collection no matter what. Too bad Katie walked in and heard the whole conversation.

Liam Keeps Making Mistakes

Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) confessed to Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) that this war with his father was starting to get to him. He wanted to win the fashion showdown but he hated what it was doing to his relationship with Eric. Before Brooke could get a chance to respond, Liam (Scott Clifton) popped in to see if either of them had heard from Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood).

Liam was surprised to hear that Steffy was off backpacking in the Swiss Alps. Brooke wondered if Steffy knew about Deacon (Sean Kanan) and Sheila (Kimberlin Brown) and Ridge said she wouldn’t know it from him since this was not the type of thing one leaves in a voicemail. As expected, Liam flashed back to leaving Steffy the information in a voicemail because Liam will always be Liam.

Liam continued to put his foot in his mouth until RJ walked in. After mumbling and stuttering about the fashion show, Liam left claiming he was only concerned about Kelly.

RJ’s Heart Is Torn

RJ and Ridge went over the fashion war rules and Ridge admitted he thought people would only vote for Eric and buy his gowns because they knew it was his last collection. That is why nobody in the audience would know who designed what.

While they discussed everything about the fashion show, all RJ could think of was Eric’s deteriorating condition. He debated telling Ridge the truth about Eric but was unable to get the words out and betray his grandfather’s trust. RJ told Ridge that designing was Eric’s life and nothing was going to stop him.

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