The Young and the Restless Recap for Monday, October 28, 2024: Nikki confronts Victor about his revenge plan against Jack

In the Athletic Club foyer, Chance read Daniel his rights over Phyllis’ objections. Chance told her not to make things harder as he didn’t want to arrest her, too. Phyllis demanded to know what proof the police had, and she accused Chance of railroading Daniel. As Chance and Phyllis bickered, Christine interrupted and announced that she was there to represent Daniel.

Phyllis protested that Christine would make sure Daniel got the electric chair. Christine advised Daniel to invoke his right to remain silent and ordered Phyllis to “shut the hell up.” Christine assured Daniel that she would see him at the courthouse, and she’d have him out on bail before lunch because the evidence was all circumstantial. Daniel calmly told Phyllis that he’d be okay, and he requested that she not tell Summer or Lucy. Phyllis ranted that everyone had lost their minds.

Phyllis guessed that Daniel was laying the groundwork for an insanity plea because it was crazy to hire Christine to defend him. Christine intervened when Chance began to put handcuffs on Daniel. Chance noted that he was romantically involved with Daniel’s sister, so he had to follow standard procedure. Daniel begged Chance not to break the friendship bracelet Lucy had given Daniel. Chance cuffed Daniel and led him out. Phyllis stopped Christine from following them. “Don’t you dare think you’re going to ruin my son’s life!” Phyllis bellowed.

Christine argued that she didn’t have time for banter when she was making sure Daniel had a good lawyer. Phyllis testily asked if Christine knew the number of one. Phyllis cried that her son was fighting for his life, and he didn’t need someone who was just trying to win brownie points with his dad. Phyllis suggested that Christine go back to being Danny’s groupie, throwing her panties on the stage.

Christine silently glared at Phyllis, and Phyllis questioned whether Christine had any clever retort that she’d learned in law school. Christine snapped that instead of doing the impossible by making Phyllis see logic, she’d save her arguments for the judge and jury to save Phyllis’ son. After Christine stalked out, Phyllis called someone and asked that they meet right away about a matter of life and death.

Later, as Phyllis gazed at a headline about Daniel’s arrest, Michael joined her and mentioned that he’d seen the news. He asked if she knew what evidence the police had, and she implored him to find out. Michael assumed she wanted him to represent her son. “Anything is better than that incompetent boob that he hired to defend him,” Phyllis grumbled, adding that there was no way Christine would be able to win a murder case.

Phyllis begged Michael to go to the judge and say he’d defend Daniel. Michael lectured that it wasn’t her call, and he assured her that Christine was an excellent attorney. Phyllis retorted that Christine hated her and would throw the case to destroy Phyllis’ life. Michael said he knew emotions were running high, but he thought Phyllis was being paranoid. He conceded that the situation might be different if Phyllis was being charged, but Daniel was Danny’s son, and they knew how Christine felt about Danny.

Michael promised to keep an eye on the case to ensure Christine acted in Daniel’s best interests, but he doubted he’d need to step in because Daniel was innocent. Michael teased Phyllis for acting like Christine was framing Daniel, but Phyllis clarified that she thought Sharon had framed her son. Michael asked if she had proof, but Phyllis declared she didn’t need it because she had mother’s intuition. Phyllis relayed that Sharon had been attacking Daniel at every turn for weeks, but Chance had disregarded Phyllis’ suspicions. Phyllis was determined to open Chance’s eyes.

Michael warned Phyllis against interfering in a police investigation or attempting to fabricate evidence to make Sharon look guilty. Phyllis insisted that she didn’t have to fabricate anything. “That bitch Sharon has been framing my son, and I will do whatever it takes to prove it,” Phyllis vowed.

At the police station, Chance removed Daniel’s handcuffs. Daniel placed his possessions in a bag. After being fingerprinted and photographed, he sat in a jail cell.

At the Abbott mansion, Jack was staring at his wedding photo when Nikki stopped by. Nikki explained that Diane had told Nikki and Victor that Jack and Diane’s marriage was in trouble. Jack called it a giant understatement since there was no chance of salvaging their union. Nikki worried that he might turn to pills to numb the pain. Jack asked if he’d given any indication he might be tempted to use drugs.

Nikki referred to Jack’s marriage falling apart, the situation with Kyle, Jabot being in disarray, and everything Jack had gone through with Ashley. Nikki fretted that the night Jack had saved her in the hotel room had been the beginning of his troubles with Diane. Jack vehemently insisted that Nikki wasn’t responsible, and he gave his word that he wouldn’t turn to pills. Nikki preferred that they go to a meeting, but Jack pledged not to lose his sobriety when he’d already lost his wife and son. He promised to call his sponsor that day.

Nikki swore she’d always be there for Jack the same way he’d been there for her. Jack asked for a favor. “Convince Victor to get his claws out of my son,” Jack growled. Nikki voiced surprise that Jack thought Victor was involved with Kyle, and Jack scoffed at the idea she knew nothing about what was going on. Nikki was stunned when Jack revealed that Victor was Glissade’s secret investor.

Jack accused Victor of pushing Kyle over the line to steal from Jabot as a way to hurt Jack. Jack suspected it was because of his efforts to get Nikki sober in the hotel room. Jack shared that Victor had denied owning Glissade when Jack confronted him, but Audra later confirmed it. Nikki huffed that Audra was hardly a reliable source, but Jack pointed out that Audra had no reason to lie. Nikki was livid that Victor had kept it from her.

Nikki urged Jack to tell her more about what was happening between him and Kyle. Jack lamented that the damage felt irreparable after the things Kyle had done since he’d been fired. Nikki inquired whether the friction with Kyle had led to the breakup of Jack and Diane’s marriage. Jack blamed Victor for stoking Kyle’s unreasonable rage, which had been directed at Jack and Diane.

Jack recalled that Diane had supposedly been wracked with guilt when she’d returned to Genoa City to be with her son, but she’d since made her intentions clear, and they “sure as hell” weren’t honorable. Nikki considered Victor’s part in it equally reprehensible, and she admitted that she sometimes turned a blind eye to her husband’s schemes. Nikki was appalled that Victor was using Jack’s sacrifice as an excuse for Victor’s bad behavior. Jack told her that he’d warned Victor not to go after him through his family, so Victor had better be ready for retaliation.

In Chancellor Park, Claire apologized to Kyle for taking longer than expected to drop Harrison off at a birthday party. She explained that the boy had wanted to wear his Halloween costume, but no other kids were in costume when they arrived. She continued that he’d taken off his butterfly wings, but he’d panicked because he’d still had makeup on, so she’d told the other moms that she was there to do face-painting for the whole party. Kyle noted that Harrison trusted her and forlornly plopped down on a park bench.

Claire asked if Kyle trusted her, too, since she knew him well enough to know when something was bothering him. Kyle cited the huge public fight between his parents, and he revealed that Diane had moved out and that Jack had fired her from Jabot. Kyle added that he’d given his mother a chance to let her refute Jack’s accusations, but she’d doubled down instead. Kyle lamented that Diane had convinced him that she’d returned to town for the right reasons, and he wondered how he had been so wrong.

Kyle recounted that Diane had confirmed that she was back for money and power, crowing about her ambitions and how she deserved what she’d fought for. He regretted that he’d been stupid enough to think she’d changed. Claire recognized the big impact a mother, or the lack of one, had on a person’s life. Claire hadn’t known how big of a hole the absence of a mother created until Victoria had filled it. Kyle commented that Claire and Victoria were lucky to have one another. Claire considered Diane lucky to have a wonderful son like Kyle.

Claire sympathized that it had hurt Kyle when Diane fired him because it had been like his mother had rejected him all over again. Kyle groaned that it had been worse to find out that repairing their relationship hadn’t even been a consideration for Diane, who’d had no problem shoving him out of the way for money and power. Kyle recalled the pain he’d seen in Jack’s eyes because Diane had chosen ambition over them. Kyle found it hard to believe that he’d thought his mother had been his best friend when he’d been growing up. Claire speculated that something good might happen as Kyle sounded like he empathized with Jack’s pain, and maybe the men could start to heal together.

Kyle conceded that it seemed like Jack wanted to find a way to fix what was broken, but Kyle wasn’t ready to take that step. Kyle compared it to what Harrison had felt when Kyle and Summer fought. Claire supposed Kyle didn’t want to take his dad’s side over his mom’s. Kyle thought his pride had gotten in the way, and Claire encouraged him to take time to process everything. Kyle recognized that things had been miserable between him and his parents, but he’d thought Jack and Diane had been happy with one another. He sensed that something was off.

Claire recalled that she’d been raised to read people. Claire believed Diane loved Kyle and Jack and was devastated by the break in their family. Claire wondered if Jack had misunderstood Diane’s motives when he’d accused her of being insincere, and Diane had angrily confirmed what he’d been saying without meaning it. Claire figured that there were no other words to hide the pain when one was told they’re a bad person — especially by a loved one. Kyle realized that he’d done the same thing with both his parents.

Claire imagined that Diane had felt under attack and vulnerable. Kyle admitted he hadn’t given his mother any support in a while, and Diane had likely had her defenses up after Jack had fired her and kicked her out of the house. Claire guessed that Diane’s anger stemmed from hurt, and Diane wouldn’t have been hurt if she didn’t still love Kyle. Kyle figured Diane might have been upset after losing her money and power. Claire argued that both things could be true at the same time. Claire envisioned Jack, Diane, and Kyle seeing past their pain and hurt and getting back to the love they felt for one another so they could be a family again.

In her hotel room, Diane poured a drink and answered a knock at the door. She greeted Traci, who recognized that Diane might have refused to see her if she’d called first. Diane offered her a drink, but Traci declined, noting the early hour. Traci announced that she was there as a concerned sister-in-law, and she handed Diane a box of profiteroles that Traci and Alan had learned to make in France. Diane remarked that the couple was still in the honeymoon phase, and she encouraged them to enjoy it while it lasted because it never did.

Traci imagined something could be done to heal the rift between Jack and Diane. Diane insisted that she and Jack were done, and the best thing Traci could do was stay out of it. Traci acknowledged that both Jack and Diane were hurt and angry, and she’d never seen Jack like that. Diane accepted that Jack’s anger was warranted since she’d returned with an agenda and almost gotten away with it.

Diane contended that everyone’s fears had been right since she had wanted her old life back and had been willing to do whatever it took to get it. Traci acknowledged that Diane could be manipulative and selfish, but she’d also seen Diane change and work hard to prove herself. Traci questioned the sudden shift. Diane complained that she was tired of defending herself and pretending to be something she wasn’t. “I am ambitious. So what?” Diane spat.

Traci said she’d witnessed Diane’s love for Kyle and Harrison, but Diane was sure Kyle would be happy to get her out of her grandson’s life before she hurt Harrison, too. Traci suspected that Diane was just going through a rough patch. Traci knew Diane and Jack loved one another, and she believed they could find their way back to one another. Diane maintained that it wouldn’t happen because she wanted it all, and she wouldn’t apologize for it anymore.

Diane questioned why she had to choose between having a career or a family when no man had to do that. Traci saw the double standard and agreed that Diane shouldn’t have to apologize for wanting both. Diane asserted that no one doubted that Victor loved his family and he was one of the most ruthless and ambitious people on the planet. Diane continued that Victor had used that love to do whatever it took to build his empire, and what he’d done in the name of family had been reprehensible. Traci cautioned Diane against aspiring to be like Victor.

Diane wailed that she was tired of pretending she didn’t want the things she wanted, and it was too bad if Jack and Kyle couldn’t handle it. Traci incredulously asked if Diane was willing to lose her husband and son. Diane said it was on Jack and Kyle to believe her love for them could coexist with her ambition, but she wouldn’t deny her needs any longer. Diane declared there was nothing more to discuss, but she stopped Traci from leaving. Diane admitted she’d been wrong about the profiteroles because Traci and Alan deserved every happiness. “So does my brother. And Diane, so do you,” Traci responded.

Jack looked down at his wedding ring as Traci returned home. Traci admitted that she’d gone to see Diane, but Jack clucked that Traci wasn’t the person to save their marriage. He mentioned that Nikki had stopped by earlier and also wanted to help. Traci said many people cared about him and hated seeing him in pain. Traci added that she’d seen how much Diane loved Jack, but her attempt to fix things between them had failed.

Jack surmised that Diane had put up the same brick wall with Traci as Diane had with him. Traci reported that she’d seen a woman who was angry and righteous, and she’d understood some of Diane’s upset, but she thought Jack was right – Diane had stopped caring about anyone but herself.

At Newman Enterprises, Nikki stepped off the elevator and marched into Victor’s office. He called it a nice surprise to see her. “We’ll see if you feel that way after we talk,” she huffed. She inquired whether he was Glissade’s secret investor, adding that Jack thought Victor had bought the company and hired Kyle to run it to exact revenge on Jack for saving her life. Victor demanded to know why Nikki had gone to see Jack when Victor had asked her to stay away. Nikki reiterated that it hadn’t been Victor’s choice to make.

Victor asserted that Jack was a danger to Nikki’s sobriety. Nikki defended that Jack was her dear friend, and there was nothing Victor could do or say to change that. She explained that she’d offered Jack support over the breakup of his marriage. Victor mocked Jack’s pain, noting that Jack had had enough presence of mind to “piss [her] off” against Victor. Nikki recalled Diane’s words about seeking revenge against Jack for what he’d done. Victor agreed that what Nikki and Jack had done in the hotel room had been debauchery.

Nikki stressed that Jack had saved her, but Victor insisted she’d saved herself. Nikki accused Victor of being committed to making Jack pay for that night. “Damn right I am,” Victor confirmed, calling Jack a failure for being unable to hold his family together. Victor implied that if Nikki was going to comfort Jack, she might as well move in with him.

Meanwhile, Diane wistfully looked at her wedding photo. She answered a call from Victor and said she’d been hoping he’d call. He asked if she was alone, knowingly adding, “Of course you are.” She testily wondered if he was calling to rub salt in her wounds or if he was interested in helping her punish Jack for his betrayal. Victor indicated that he was interested. Diane hissed that she wanted payback and didn’t care who she had to hurt to make it happen.

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