The Young and the Restless Recap for Tuesday, January 14, 2025: Chelsea drinks, Nick thinks, and an alliance sinks

Chelsea bumped into Victoria in the jazz club as she ordered a double dirty martini with extra olives. Victoria invited her to join her for a drink. Victoria shocked Chelsea by saying she had heard what happened between her, Billy, and Adam. “If you want to talk about it, I’m a pretty decent listener,” Victoria said.

Chelsea confided that what happened was not just Adam’s fault, and she was equally guilty. Victoria said things happen and wouldn’t judge. She added that she had issues with Adam in the past but saw a lot of changes in him over the past year.

Victoria noted that given the work they had been doing with Connor and his OCD, it was only natural that Adam and Chelsea would get closer. She told Chelsea that no one would be surprised if they got back together. Chelsea let out a heavy sigh.

Chelsea noted that Victor was suddenly championing the cause as well. She told Victoria that her reunion with Cole over their child was a beautiful story, but it wasn’t hers and Adam’s. Chelsea thought that, given their history, she and Adam should never be a couple again.

Chelsea admitted that Adam wanted her to move to the ranch, and Victoria thought it wasn’t a bad idea, even though Chelsea made it clear to her and Adam that it would be strictly platonic and that she would have her own space.

Chelsea explained that Connor's request for her to move into the ranch made sense. Victoria admired Chelsea’s commitment to Connor and thought Victoria would do the same if she were in her position. Chelsea agreed, but they laughed when she said she couldn’t see Billy wanting to move to the ranch to co-parent with her.

Chelsea asked Victoria for her opinion about moving to the ranch. “I think you’re a good influence on Adam,” Victoria said. Chelsea knew Adam was stronger when he felt supported, but she didn’t think she could live under the same roof. Victoria pointed out she wouldn’t be committing to Adam by moving to the ranch; she’d be committing to Connor. “Victora, I don’t think Adam sees the difference,” Chelsea told her. After Victoria left, Chelsea called Adam and asked to meet him. She said she made a decision about moving into the ranch.

At Crimson Lights, Claire saw Mariah and Tessa and asked if there was any news about Sharon. She told her that they found the car but there was no sign of Sharon. Mariah could tell by the look on Claire’s face she thought Sharon could be dead. Mariah exclaimed she was wrong and she would know if her mom was dead as she would feel it.

Mariah recounted how Sharon had been her old self again, and it made no sense that she would vanish. Claire asked if Sharon couldn’t be found because she didn’t want to be. Mariah said Sharon wouldn’t just run off. Mariah pointed out that when Sharon thought she was guilty of Heather’s murder, she stayed to face her punishment, and she had just found out that someone else was there, so she wouldn’t take off now when there was a chance of vindication. Mariah didn’t think it was a coincidence that Ian was in town.

Tessa pointed out that Ian said Vicotr’s security team was following him, which Claire thought must be comforting. Mariah said Ian was so slick that it meant nothing. Mariah shared that when she saw him in the park, she threatened to kill him if she saw his face again. Tessa admitted that Ian was at Society earlier. Tessa said that she knew Ian was just trying to get under their skin, and Abby banned him from the place.

Mariah wanted to know exactly what Ian said to her. Tessa explained that Ian wanted to see if she was okay and he wanted to make amends. Mariah said it was all lies.

Mariah was very upset about Sharon so Tessa and Claire consoled her. Claire shared the stories that Nikki had told her about Ian but reminded them how Ian had been stopped and thought he would be again. She added that the stories reminded her about her aunt Jordan. Claire didn’t know what she would do if she had to come face to face with her again.

Mariah recounted how seeing Ian knocked the wind out of her. Claire said she had a similar scare earlier and told them how she heard Jordan’s tea order and wondered if it was her. “I swear to god I had a PTSD flashback,” Claire said. She wondered what the chances were of someone else ordering an oolong tea with agave and half and half. Claire said it freaked her out so badly that she called the prison to ensure that Jordan was still locked up. Mariah thought that it was good that Claire called the prison. “We don’t need two crazies running around,” she added. Mariah said she would find peace after Sharon was found and Ian was banished from their lives.

In the sewer, Sharon heard Nick come in and find her. He immediately started to try an break the chain that bound her to the pipe. Sharon gushed that she knew he’d be the one to save her. As Nick tried to break the chain, he made a loud noise. Startled, Sharon snapped out of it and realized she was alone.

Sharon cried, realizing that seeing Nick wasn’t real. She wondered if drugs were still in her system. Sharon weakly asked herself how this could be happening. She could hear Nick’s voice telling her to hold on, and he would find her.

Sharon drank some water and then thought there must be something she could use to find a way out. She saw a metal rod on the stairs nearby, but it was just out of her reach.

Nick came into Society and saw Summer and Chance enjoying their evening. He asked if Chance had any information about Sharon’s disappearance, but he didn’t, so he called the station to confirm. Summer shared that Phyllis thought Sharon was just up to her games. Nick argued that Sharon was back on track and wouldn’t just up and disappear like that. They all agreed that none of it makes sense.

Chance thought that the car doors and windows being shut indicated she got out before it went into the river. “What if Sharon was never in the car in the first place?” Nick asked Chance. Chance asked Nick where he was going with that idea. Nick didn’t know.

Nick recounted the possibility of the scenario that Shaorn could have gotten out of the car in time before it went underwater. He suggested that someone else put it there. Chance wanted to know who and why someone would do that. “I don’t know, but there’s a lot of crazy around us,” Nick said.

“Let’s look at the sequence of events,” Nick offered. He pointed out that Sharon was targeted for months, someone tainted her meds and framed her for Heather's murder. Nick thought the same person could be behind it all, but Chance thought that was a stretch. “It doesn’t mean I’m wrong,” Nick argued. He pointed out that someone got Sharon high on PCP, and she was confronting Heather, but someone else was in the room.

Nick said they needed to consider the latest wild card. “Is this your Ian Ward theory?” Chance said slightly snidely, and Summer sighed. Nick pointed out that Ian was obsessed with Mariah and the Newmans. Chance agreed Ian was a threat but thought it was a coincidence that he was back in town at the same time Sharon went missing. Nick said his gut said otherwise.

Chance told Nick he was a witness to Ian being at Society the night Sharon went missing. Nick said he could have gotten to Sharon before he and Faith arrived, but Chance thought that was speculation. He told Nick he needed “a hell of a lot more than that” as proof. Nick pointed out that Tessa told him that Ian had asked for a table for two that night, and suggested he wasn’t working alone.

Chance stared as Nick and Summer discussed Phyllis’ New Year’s resolution to back off obsessing about Sharon. Nick thought it was out of character, but Summer thought Phyllis was trying to turn a new leaf. Nick wondered where Sharon was and if she was being held prisoner.

Nick admitted that he went to see Ian. He explained he needed to look him in the eye and demand some answers. Chance thought Nick had escalated the situation. “I want to work with you; I’m trying,” Chance snapped. He told Nick to let the professionals handle it. Nick was sure the key to finding Sharon was figuring out who Ian was working with.

In the motel room, Jordan saw Ian coming through the window. “Finally! Where the hell have you been?” she barked. He spotted the coffee she brought for him but said she had brought it over an hour ago and was angry, so she dumped it in the plant. Ian claimed to have been out working on their plan, but Jordan didn’t believe he was doing anything for her part of the plan. She growled that she wanted to know where he was and why he brought their enemies to their door.

Ian said that Nick coming by the motel room had just played into his plan. He explained that he had sent a letter to the police warning that he could be in danger of the Newmans. He added that he went to Society to affirm his connection with Tessa. He tried to tell Jordan that the plan was the same and he was also working for her benefit. Ian seemed sure that if he could win over Mariah and Tessa, he’d have an all-access pass to Claire for her. He told Jordan it was a process and she needed patience. Jordan warned she wasn’t going to get screwed over and was about to take matters into her own hands. “I am terminating this partnership, tout de suite,” she told him.

Ian blamed Jordan for the Newmans being watching them and called her careless for Nick finding out about Sharon’s meds being tampered. He said her new failure was unforgivable. “You wanted her gone, I did exactly that,” Jordan said. “I wanted Sharon dead, but she isn’t, is she?” Ian glowered.

Ian demanded that Jordan tell him the truth, but she refused. Ian said he had overheard Chance saying that the car was empty. “What the hell did you do with Sharon?” Ian asked. Jordan admitted she put Sharon somewhere safe where she wouldn’t escape. “After everything I’ve done for you, our well laid out plans — you went rogue?” Ian asked.

Jordan said she was stifled in their relationship, and her needs were being taken care of. She and Ian began arguing, and Jordan felt as though Ian was mansplaining and belittling her. She said she wouldn’t stand for it anymore. “And by the way, one person’s loose ends could be another person’s insurance policy. Which will come in very handy now that this partnership is over,” Jordan said.

Ian told her she didn’t mean it, but Jordan told him she was already out the door. “Honey, who’s going to keep you warm at night?” Ian soothed. “As if,” Jordan sneered. Ian warned her she didn’t want to turn her back on him. “As a man of the cloth, I can’t in good conscience know of a murder of a young woman and stay silent when I know who the killer is,” Ian threatened. Jordan told him if he turned her in, she’d tell the cops where Sharon was. “And every shred of evidence will put you right there,” Jordan said. Ian warned Jordan if she walked out the door, there was no going back. “Good luck with Mariah, and have a nice life, Reverend,” Jordan said as she walked out the door. Enraged, Ian yelled in frustration with clenched fists.

At Crimson Lights, Jordan appeared wearing her disguise. She ordered an oolong tea with agave and half and half. Behind her, Claire said goodbye to Mariah and Tessa and came inside. As Jordan took her tea and said thank you, Claire heard her and said, “Jordan?” Her aunt stiffened up, then bolted out the door. “Wait!” Claire called out before chasing after her.

Jordan made it to the park when Claire came up behind her and called her name. Jordan stopped, took off her glasses, and turned dramatically. “Hello, kitten,” she smiled. “My God, it is you,” Claire said, horrified.

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