The Young and the Restless Recap for Friday, January 17, 2025: Claire builds an army, Sharon breaks free

At Society, Victor met with Adam. He told his son he was the perfect man to help get rid of Ian, as he knew how his mind worked. Adam said he was ashamed that he once worked against him with Ian. Victor assured Adam it was water under the bridge. Victor said they needed to get rid of Ian.

Victor told Adam to launch a full-scale attack on Ian, focusing on the legitimacy of his release and the absurdity of him being a chaplain. Adam didn’t think Ian would be that affected by a smear campaign, but Victor wanted anyone who saw Ian to question him. Victor said it was only the beginning and had more planned.

Adam knew how psychotic Ian was and was all for bringing him to his knees. He said if Ian was in town, he had a plan, and there were no weaknesses to exploit. Victor said Ian had a massive ego and would react out of arrogance. Victor said when Ian reacted, he would crush him like a roach.

Adam said he was on board because the sooner Ian was out of their lives, the better. Adam wanted Victor to know that he could never make up for Victor getting shot, and he was involved with Ian. “I want you to know that I’ll always have your back. Whatever you need, you can count on me,” Adam told him. Victor appreciated him saying that. Victor asked when he and Connor were moving into the ranch so he could protect them better.

Adam shared Victor’s security concerns, and he would move in immediately with Connor and Chelsea. Adam credited Connor with Chelsea’s invitation and for being the reason she agreed. Victor was happy they would all be under one roof at the ranch.

Victor shared that the police found video footage of Sharon being abducted. Adam was taken aback and worried that it was already too late. Victor said they had to hope she was strong enough to hold on until they could find her.

Adam needed to go to say goodnight to Connor. He asked that Victor didn’t drop by unannounced for sugar but if he came with tequila, that would be well received. Adam told Victor that his plan for Ian was a good one. Victor swore that he would stop that man from doing damage to his family again.

Nick came over to Sharon’s and found Mariah waiting up; Faith was upstairs sleeping. Nick said the police had security footage of Sharon being kidnapped near Society. Nick told her the details of what he saw on the footage and that he couldn’t recognize who did it. Mariah and Nick were determined to find Sharon and bring her home.

Nick said if the plan was to kill Sharon, they would have tossed her over the bridge in the car. He thought whoever they were, they spared her to toy with them and expected a ransom note. Mariah weighed the chances of Ian being behind Sharons’s disappearance.

Nick thought the person who took Sharon looked familiar, but the video was grainy, and he couldn’t tell. All he knew was that if they found that person, they’d find Sharon. Mariah suggested Ian’s partner in crime was someone he visited in prison and groomed before they were released. Nick agreed and thought they should get a list of prisons he visited and those he recently released.

Nick called Chance, who told him that he would get the lists of names. Mariah knew it was good news but was taken aback. “Is it weird that I hope Ian is as innocent as he claims?” Mariah wondered. She explained that if Ian was innocent, then none of it was her fault. If Ian killed Heather and kidnapped Sharon, he did it because of her in some way, and she couldn’t take it. Mariah cried as she hoped it wasn’t Ian. Nick consoled her with a long hug.

Mariah freshened up and apologized to Nick for losing it. She said Ian had broken so many lives, and now he was there again because of her. Mariah had been holding it in and hadn’t even talked about it with Tessa. Nick assured her that she had nothing to feel guilty about. He said she didn’t bring Ian, and it wasn’t on her as she was a child and a victim, too, and reminded her that Ian’s hatred for the Newmans went back a very long time. “Being raised by Ian…I still have nightmares,” Mariah confided. She said that she wakes up to the amazing life she has. “It’s all because of Sharon,” Mariah said. The thought of that monster hurting Sharon any more than he already had was killing her. Nick knew Sharon would tell her she knew how much Mariah loved her when they brought her home.

Nick said they would get through this. Mariah wished there was more they could do, but Nick didn’t know what she was talking about. He pointed out all the things she was doing for her siblings and how she was running Cassidy First, plus being an amazing wife and daughter. Nick knew he’d been relying on her a lot. “There’s this thing you do. You never give up,” Mariah said, adding that Nick kept them grounded and made them believe everything would be okay. “We’re going to find Ian and whoever the hell he’s working with. We’re going to bring your mother home,” Nick told her. Mariah swore when they did she would never let anyone hurt Sharon, ever again.

At the ranch house, Nikki and Victoria paced for a long time, considering the option to join Claire in killing Jordan. Finally, Nikki spoke. “Say we agree to this…killing Jordan. Could we actually pull it off?” she wondered.

Victoria couldn’t believe her mom was entertaining murder. Nikki said that given the terror that Jordan has put them through, to see justice and know they were protecting their loved ones would give them a great deal of relief. Victoria reminded Nikki that she was the one who called the EMTs when Jordan drank a vial of poison.

Nikki pointed out that Claire was right. “Her only motive is revenge. She won’t stop until we’re dead. So maybe we stop her first,” Nikki explained. Victoria didn’t want to stoop to Jordan’s level of violence.

Claire told them that when she was with Jordan, she felt no fear or guilt. She knew that Jordan was pure evil and would keep coming after the family. Claire pointed out that anyone in their orbit could also become her target or collateral damage. Nikki agreed and reminded Victoria about her sponsor, Seth, whom Jordan pushed in front of a car. Nikki said she wouldn’t let Jordan target Claire, even if she had to put a stake in her heart.

Victoria was worried about getting caught. Claire pointed out that the only ones who knew Jordan was in town were the three of them. The prison didn’t even know she was missing, so no one would be looking for her. Victoria said they could spend years in prison, but Nikki and Claire thought it was worth the risk. Claire told her she was sorry, but she couldn’t be talked out of it.

Claire calmly told Victoria that she knew what had to be done and couldn’t be stopped. Victoria worried that Jordan would catch on and hurt Claire or worse. Nikki said that Victoria was right and that it was a dangerous game that could go terribly wrong. Claire insisted she knew how to play Jordan, and she had already started to lay the foundation when she lied to Jordan. She bought it.

Claire laid out a plan to convince Jordan she had faked her way into being part of the Newmans and that it was all part of a grand scheme to make them think she loved them and wanted to be part of the family. Claire said Jordan would believe her when she told her she intended to befriend the Newmans to steal a few million dollars and disappear. Claire thought Jordan would be so busy congratulating herself that she wouldn’t see them coming, and she would have her right where she wanted her.

Victoria hated the idea of using Claire as bait. She wasn’t too keen on the killing part, either. Claire said Victoria used that word because she thought it would deter her from following through. “I prefer to think of it as neutralizing her,” Claire said simply. Victoria pointed out that Jordan had never wanted money. The only thing she ever wanted from the Newmans was their blood. “I refuse to spill yours!” Victoria told Claire adamantly.

Claire was calm, cool, and collected as she told Nikki and Victoria that she could handle anything Jordan threw at her. She didn’t want to take the situation to Victor, but Claire knew he would take over. She thought Cole would want them to show mercy, but they knew what that looked like. Claire was sure there was only one solution. Claire thought it was her only path to vindication for almost having them killed, but Nikki told her she was as much Jordan’s victim as they were. Victoria tried again to talk sense into Claire, but she said she would walk out and disappear until it was done. “You won’t be able to stop me,” she added.

Claire insisted she knew the risk, but it was life and death. Claire said the danger was already out there. She reminded Victoria that Jordan burned down her house and Johnny and Katie could be in danger next. Nikki thought they had no choice as too many lives were at stake. “But here’s the thing. We do this, the three of us. And we will never speak of it again. Are we agreed?” Nikki asked. Just then, Victor walked in. “What are the three of you scheming?” he asked. They looked at him like deer in headlights.

Victoria made up an excuse that she and Nikki were telling Claire family stories, but Victor noted they must have been bad ones. Victoria said they all had Ian Ward on their mind. Victor told them about the video footage of Sharon being abducted. Victor’s phone buzzed, and he had emails to answer, so he left them alone. After Victor left the room, Claire asked if they all agreed. “God help us. We can’t fail,” Victoria said.

In the old sewer, Sharon beat the chain with the metal rod, but it wouldn’t break. She cried as she paused, frustrated. Sharon took a swig of water from her bottle and then got dizzy. She felt the same as she did in Heather’s apartment. She realized her water was drugged. She started to break down but then realized she needed to escape asap because she would need water to survive. “Noah, Mariah, Faith,” Sharon chanted until she found the strength to break the chain.

Sharon stood up but couldn’t see straight. “No, no…I’m getting out of here. I’m going home,” Sharon said to herself. “Just a few more steps, and I’ll be free,” Sharon murmured before collapsing to the ground.

Next week on The Young and the Restless:

At the jazz club, Sally stood next to the table where Jack and Billy sat and told them she didn’t want to interrupt. Jack insisted he and his brother were just finishing up as he gave a knowing smile to Billy. “Good. Because I have a surprise for you,” Sally told Billy.

At Society, Ian told Tessa, “I tried to destroy every last ounce of goodness in that girl. And that’s why I hate myself. I have to do this, Tessa. And you have to help me!” Tessa looks sympathetic.

“Pretty sure Ian doesn’t wear that shade of lipstick,” Chance says to Nick as he holds up a glass he found in Ian’s motel room. Chance deduces that Ian’s accomplice could be a woman.

“As long as Jordan is breathing, she is a threat to everyone we love,” Nikki tells Victoria and Claire at the ranch house. “That’s why we need to figure out our next step, where we take her so that we can end this,” Claire tells them. “I have an idea. Get your coats, let’s go,” Nikki says. Around the corner, Victor is eavesdropping.

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