The Young and the Restless Recap for Thursday, January 23, 2025: Sharon escapes, Jordan is cornered

At Society, Tessa told Ian that Abby banned him. He said she didn’t need to call the police, but Tessa told him that she was upset he’d lied to her when they met, and he used her to find out information about Mariah. Ian sadly noted that he kept trying to make amends, but no one believed his transformation was real. “But it’s real, Tessa,” Ian pleaded. Tessa told him that Mariah didn’t want to see him. Ian asked for a chance to convince Tessa that the people she loved didn’t need to fear her.

Ian pleaded his case to Tessa, but she said it would be hard for anyone to believe him when he was scaring them by not staying away. Ian felt he was the one who put the hardened heart inside of Mariah by the things he had done. He wanted Tessa’s help to get Mariah to heal and set her free from the traumas that he had caused, thereby making his amends.

Tessa told him it felt wrong to be talking to him. Ian said she was just helping an old man. They talked about how Mariah wouldn’t want them talking, and Ian got Tessa to soften by complimenting Mariah and saying how he had hurt her. Mariah saw them through the window and came storming in as Ian was begging Tessa to help him. “What the hell are you doing here?!” Mariah snapped.

Ian explained he wasn’t giving up on convincing her he was a changed man and was just asking for Tessa’s help. Mariah told him loud and clear there was no salvation or forgiveness. “So for the very last time, you stay away from me, you stay away from Tessa, you stay the hell away from Aria, and any of the rest of my family! Nobody wants you here!” Mariah screamed. She told him to leave town, or better yet, to just keel over and die. Ian asked if that was her final word, then sadly walked out.

Mariah told Tessa that the next time she saw Ian, call the police. Tessa agreed but asked to consider that Ian was sincere about making amends. She explained that he hadn’t done anything wrong since coming to town and saved her life. She added that he’d said some sweet, truthful things about Mariah. Mariah couldn’t believe her ears and told Tessa to stop. Tessa kept trying to speak on behalf of Ian.

Mariah snapped that this was how Ian operates, roping people in, and then that’s when he strikes. Tessa said, “I know that’s how he was, but…” Mariah barked at her, “No, IS! Is, Tessa, is! Nothing has changed!” Tessa kept defending Ian and asking Mariah to just consider that what he was saying was true. “And to let the rage go, for your own sake,” she added, sounding just like him.

Mariah firmly kept telling her that it was all a lie. “And after all the things that I’ve told you about him, how can you stand in front of me and defend him? I don’t understand why you are doing this!” Mariah argued. Tessa said it was something in Ian’s words and how tenderly he spoke of Mariah. She noted that on the flip side, Mariah was just full of rage. She asked Mariah to let it go, for herself as much as for Ian.

Tessa whimpered she hadn’t meant to upset Mariah, but her wife didn’t know what else she expected would happen. Tessa said she was just hoping to lift some of her childhood trauma, but Mariah told her she was fine. “And even if I wasn’t, Ian is not the person that’s going to fix me,” Mariah told her adamantly. Mariah said Ian only destroys, yet Tessa, for some unknown reason, believed he’d changed. “I can only tell you how he seemed to me,” Tessa implored.

“And you had to make this observation tonight? When we have been dealing with hell for god knows how many months? My mother is missing and possibly dead,” Mariah listed. Tessa said they didn’t know that, but Mariah snapped. “It’s true, she could be! But you know what? You had to be heard. You had to make a case for Ian. You had to be heard,” Mariah told Tessa. Tessa apologized, but Mariah didn’t want to talk or hear any more apologies for Ian. “It’s not going to ‘set me free,’ and I can’t believe you’d do this to me,” Mariah said, visibly upset, before walking out.

At the ranch house, Chance and Nick asked Victoria what he thought Nikki and Victoria were up to. He tried calling Nikki, but it went to voice mail. Nick didn’t like it that they were somewhere on the property, but they didn’t know where. With Jordan and Ian on the loose, it wasn’t safe.

On the phone, Victor told security to find Jordan and bring her by. Nick warned Faith to keep the doors locked. Victor didn’t think Jordan had left town as she hadn’t gotten what she came to get. Chance told them if they heard anything, they needed to the police so they could do things by the books. Chance got a call that they found Jordan’s abandoned truck and went to check it out. Victor assured him his vigilante days were over.

Once alone, Victor and Nick discussed how Victor didn’t mean what he said to Chance. Victor explained that whatever Nikki and Victoria were up to was something he didn’t want the police to be involved in as it probably wasn’t entirely legal.

In the old sewer, “Nick” continued to encourage Sharon to wake up and be strong enough to save herself. “You’re almost there. You’re almost home,” Sharon heard him say as she came in and out of consciousness.

Nick told Sharon that her family was waiting, but their lives could be in danger, too. That gave Sharon the strength to stand. As Nick kept encouraging her, she took one step at a time towards the stairs. “I can do this,” Sharon told herself. “I have to get home. One step at a time,” she cried as she made her way out.

Sharon stumbled outside and sunk to the bench at the lookout in Chancellor Park. Just then, Mariah was walking by and saw her. “Mom! Mom!” she cried and ran to her. Mariah held Sharon as she promised she would never let anyone hurt her again.

At the tack house, Jordan put down her cup and noted that Claire had dramatically told her not to drink it. She asked why she would do that after so kindly making it for her. “One would think you’re having second thoughts about something,” Jordan told her.

Claire told Jordan she barely knew Sharon, but she was fond of Mariah and Tessa and wanted to know where Sharon was. She said they didn’t need Sharon as insurance because Claire would take care of her now. Jordan laughed and wanted to keep that information to herself a bit longer. “You never know when someone might unexpectedly turn on you,” she added. Claire stood up and firmly told her aunt that she wasn’t asking, she was telling her that their fight wasn’t with Sharon, so give her up.

“Who are you to start giving me orders?” Jordan seethed. Claire said she was Jordan’s best shot at staying hidden and reminded her how everyone would be looking for her by now, including Chance, Nick, and Victor. Claire continued to snap at her about how she’d proven to her she could be trusted by not turning her in and bringing her to the ranch and bringing her in on her plan. “I was ready to take care of my mother on my own, and I still can,” Claire warned. She stepped forward and menacingly threatened that if Jordan didn’t tell her where Sharon was, she would call the police.

Jordan couldn’t believe Claire’s orders and harsh tones. Claire said she was offering her a new life, but her sloppiness could cost her everything. “So just tell me where she is or let her go, but cover your tracks so we can move forward,” Claire snapped. Jordan accused her of being brainwashed by Newman self-righteousness. Jordan said Claire was lying and asked what was in the tea.

Claire didn’t know what she was talking about and told Jordan she only put agave in her tea. She swore she had been playing the Newmans to make her score, and she only wanted Sharon to be released in return. Jordan laughed and said Claire had just given herself away as the girl she’d raised wouldn't care about some “blonde bitch” that she barely knew.

Jordan grabbed her coat to leave but Claire laughed that she wouldn’t make it to the gates. Jordan was confident she could sneak past Victor’s goons again. “You’re not going anywhere,” Claire told her aunt. Jordan snickered and asked if Claire thought she was going to stop her. Nikki and Victoria came down the stairs and said, “No, but we will.”

“Hello, Nikki. You look…sober,” Jordan sniffed. Claire told her it had all been a con, and she walked right into it. Jordan admitted she had lost her touch and gotten sucked in. When she started to rant that the Newmans had ruined her, Victoria told her to shut up and called her a “crazy bitch.” Jordan asked if there was poison in her tea. “Why don’t you drink it and find out?” Claire asked.

Jordan laughed at her and said she didn’t believe she had the guts, and that was why she stopped her from drinking it. “Just like you didn’t have the guts to pull the trigger last winter back in the cabin,” Jordan pointed out. She noted that Claire always held back, like in the warehouse. Jordan taunted them for never being able to follow through with killing her or keeping her in prison because she always escaped. “I’m a cat with nine lives, and I have a few more left,” Jordan mocked.

Jordan told Nikki that she was the easiest one of all, but Nikki retorted that they were all stronger than ever. Victoria and Nikki told her they needed to put the world out of its misery. “And you’re on board with all of this?” Jordan asked Claire. “It was my idea,” she replied. Just then, Nick and Victor walked in.

“Hello, Victor. Just can’t get rid of me, can you,” Jordan smiled. “I think we’ll succeed this time,” Victor growled. Claire told them that Jordan knew where Sharon was. Nick yelled at her for details, but Jordan told Victor to put a leash on his son. “I’ll you all in good time,” she drawled, noting that poor Sharon had little time left.

Victor noted she was working with Ian. Jordan told them that Ian killed Heather Stevens, as she didn’t want that one pinned on her. Jordan told them the plan, that Ian had wanted Sharon out of the way to make a path to Mariah, and then Claire was next. She admitted the drugs wore off Sharon, and she started remembering things, and when the murder case was reopened, they had to take Sharon. Jordan added she was supposed to kill her but hid her instead.

Given the rations she'd left for her, Jordan told them she didn’t think Sharon had much longer. “If you want to see her alive again, you should make me an escape offer, one that you’ll honor this time,” Jordan told them.

Nick and Victor told Jordan she could have read the details of Sharon’s disappearance online and was lying about her involvement. She specified that Sharon’s car was found on Carlsbad Road with tire tracks going all the way down to the water at the exact place that Heather Stevens’ body was found, crediting that detail to Ian.

Claire believed her as she’d told her the same information earlier when she had no reason to lie. However, she knew they couldn’t take anything Jordan said lightly. Victoria ripped into Jordan for stealing her daughter when she was a baby. She told her she wished they were locked in a room together so they could work it out properly. Jordan warned Victoria she might get her wish yet.

Victor said it all ends tonight, but Jordan warned if they killed her, Sharon would die. Jordan asked if Victor’s children and grandchildren would ever forgive him for that. “You will end tonight,” Victor repeated menacingly.

Jordan told Victor she held all the cards and thought he should indulge her. Jordan wanted a lot of money and for one of them to be her hostage to escape. Nikki told her no one was going with her, and she wouldn’t hurt anyone in the family again, especially Sharon.

Jordan snickered at their family loyalty as Nick answered his phone. “No interruptions!” Jordan demanded as she was trying to negotiate her escape. It was Mariah calling. She told Nick that Sharon was alive and where they were. Nick hung up and told everyone the news, then left to pick them up. “What she had to bargain with now?” Victor snickered at Jordan.

Victor told Jordan there was no way out for her now. “I have another bargaining chip. I can give you Ian Ward,” Jordan offered. Victor declined, but she added that Ian had a weakness for her. Victor yelled they didn’t need her for anything. “Was this your end game, to trap me like a caged animal?” Jordan asked Claire. Claire admitted the plan was to ensure she never hurt anyone again.

Jordan trembled as she told Claire she loved her. “You don’t know the meaning of the word. Any sympathy I had for you was knocked out of me a long time ago after all the lives you’ve taken and ruined. This is where it needs to end for you,” Claire told her. Jordan ran to the table and grabbed the big mug of tea. She started to drink it as quickly as she could.

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