FULL EPISODE B&B: Eric Leaves on Christmas Eve — Brooke & Donna Panic

The Bold and the Beautiful delivers a deeply emotional Christmas Eve episode that peels back the glittering holiday façade to expose raw fear, regret,

and love at the heart of the Forester family. While twinkling lights and festive traditions fill Los Angeles homes, one painful truth dominates the night:

Eric Forrester is not okay—and his quiet disappearance sends shockwaves through everyone who loves him.

The episode opens inside Brooke Logan and Ridge Forrester’s beautifully decorated home, where Christmas appears flawless on the surface. The tree glows, stockings are perfectly arranged, and the promise of family togetherness hangs in the air. Brooke is genuinely trying to embrace the season, moving from room to room with hopeful energy. Ridge, however, struggles to match her enthusiasm. His smile never quite reaches his eyes, and an unspoken tension lingers between them.

It doesn’t take long for Brooke to voice what’s been weighing on her heart. She can’t stop thinking about Eric. This is the first Christmas in decades that he isn’t actively running Forester Creations, and Brooke fears that the forced retirement has taken more from him than anyone anticipated. Forester wasn’t just Eric’s business—it was his identity, his passion, and his life’s work. Ridge listens quietly, clearly torn. As CEO, he made a decision he believed was necessary for the company’s future, but as a son, the guilt is beginning to gnaw at him.

Brooke gently suggests they go check on Eric and Donna—not as executives or power players, but simply as family. After a brief pause, Ridge agrees. His instincts tell him something is wrong.

Across town, Donna Logan is doing everything she can to create a warm and joyful Christmas Eve for Eric. The house is decorated, music plays softly, and she chatters excitedly about Christmas Day traditions. Yet Eric sits quietly, distant and withdrawn. When Donna finally notices his faraway stare, she asks what’s wrong. Eric doesn’t sugarcoat the truth: he just doesn’t feel the Christmas spirit this year.

He admits it feels strange—almost painful—to celebrate when such a huge part of his life has been stripped away. For decades, Forester Creations gave him purpose. Without it, he feels unmoored. Donna reassures him, reminding him that he is still Eric Forrester, still loved, still essential to his family. But her words can’t reach him. Eric softly says he needs some air, some time to think. Before Donna can press further, he grabs his coat and walks out, leaving behind a house filled with unanswered questions and rising fear.

When Brooke and Ridge arrive moments later, Donna greets them warmly, but the mood shifts instantly when she reveals Eric isn’t home. Brooke’s concern deepens, and Ridge feels a knot tighten in his chest. Donna explains that Eric was restless and unsettled before leaving. Ridge doesn’t hesitate—he already knows where his father has gone. With quiet certainty, he says Eric went to Forester Creations.

The scene cuts to the fashion house, dark and silent for the holidays. Eric unlocks the door and steps inside, the emptiness echoing around him. As he walks through the familiar halls, memories flood back: laughter, heated creative debates, family conflicts, triumphs, heartbreaks, and the birth of iconic designs. He pauses in the main office, touching the desk and sketches that once defined his daily life. Tears fill his eyes as he whispers that he never wanted to let anyone down.

Just as Eric is lost in his memories, footsteps break the silence. Ridge appears, father and son locking eyes under the weight of decades of shared history. Ridge admits he knew Eric would come here—that something told him this was where his father needed to be on Christmas Eve. Eric finally opens up, confessing that he feels like he’s failed everyone: the company, the family, the legacy. Retirement doesn’t feel like rest—it feels like erasure.

Ridge listens, visibly shaken. For the first time, the professional decision he made clashes violently with the emotional reality of its impact. Eric insists he never wanted to be a burden or a disappointment. All he ever wanted was to keep doing what he loves. The moment is raw, vulnerable, and deeply painful—one that may forever change their relationship.

Meanwhile, back at Donna’s house, Brooke and Donna stand near the Christmas tree, trying to hold themselves together. Donna excitedly talks about hosting Christmas Day, the food and traditions Eric usually adores, but her voice wavers. Brooke gently asks how Eric is really doing. Donna finally admits the truth: Eric hasn’t been himself since being forced into retirement. Even surrounded by holiday cheer, he seems lost.

Brooke’s face softens with guilt as she acknowledges she never imagined the decision would hurt Eric this deeply. She reminds Donna that no one ever wanted Eric to feel discarded—he is Forester Creations, and he always will be. When Donna reveals that Eric left without saying where he was going, Brooke’s worry turns to dread. Family instinct tells her exactly where he is. When Ridge returns and confirms Eric isn’t home, the tension spikes. Ridge announces he’s going to find his father, leaving Brooke and Donna clinging to hope and prayer.

In stark contrast, the episode also offers a moment of warmth and healing at the cliff house. Steffy Forrester and Finn Finnegan have created a cozy, loving Christmas Eve for Kelly and Hayes. Laughter fills the room as soft music plays, and for a brief moment, everything feels peaceful. Beneath the mistletoe, Steffy and Finn share a tender kiss—a quiet reminder of everything they’ve survived together.

The mood shifts when Kelly and Hayes announce they want to give some of their Christmas presents away to children who have less. Steffy is overwhelmed with pride and emotion as Finn praises their compassion. The children explain they already have everything they need: love, family, and a home. As they hug near the tree, Steffy reflects that this is what Christmas truly means—love, gratitude, and giving back.

The episode closes with this powerful contrast: one family finding peace through generosity, while another grapples with loss, regret, and the fear of losing the man who built their world. Christmas Eve on The Bold and the Beautiful proves that even in the darkest moments, love remains the one thing worth fighting for.