Even all the way in Europe, Bold & Beautiful designer Thomas’ ears had to have been burning on May 27 as his old flame accepted her new boo Carter’s proposal of marriage. (Read the recap.) We don’t blame him one bit, either. Over and over, Thomas popped that same question, and Hope said each time that she loved him but didn’t want to form a new union so soon after her and Liam’s went bust.

So, what? If Thomas had just held out for another year, he’d be the one marrying Hope?

Back when Steffy’s brother was spending half of his time on bended knee, we sympathized with Hope. As it was her attraction to Thomas was what stuck a fork in her relationship with Liam. She went from Liam’s wife to Thomas’ lover in record time. (Review the timeline.) So we bought that she wanted to press “pause” before saying “I do” again.

Now, though… forget it.

If we overlook Thomas’ troubling past, he was an ideal partner for Hope. Utterly devoted to her. An enthusiastic support system. The one designer in all of L.A. who was able to keep her fashion line afloat. Yet she wouldn’t go there with him and now will go there with Carter, who un-staged their coup, then stuck around at Forrester Creations even after she was re-fired. What?

At this point, it looks to us like Steffy was right, that Hope was just stringing Thomas along. How else can you explain why she’d agree to marry a guy who’d just stabbed her in the back whereas she wouldn’t even get engaged to one who would push her out of the way to keep her from being knifed?

Any way you slice it, though, the twist can only mean one thing: Welcome back, Thomas! No way will he be able to let Hope walk down the aisle with Carter without returning himself to question her motives. Thomas might even make a play for Hope, if only for show, to demonstrate to Carter that he could have her back anytime he wanted.

We can just hear Carter insisting to Thomas, “I believe in what Hope and I have. I believe in our love.”

“Yeah, and I believe in unicorns,” Thomas cracks before playing Carter a video in which Hope admits that she never stopped loving him, wanting him, dreaming of him…

What do you think? Will Thomas return to rock the boat for “Cope”… or maybe altogether sink it?