The Young and the Restless Recap for Tuesday, January 28, 2025: Ian turns the tables on Victor

In his living room, Billy marveled to Sally about the interior design she did in his home and how much he loved it, especially the personal touches that meant a lot. Billy told her he loved the area near the fireplace, but his favorite spot was the couch because she was on it. After kissing, Sally suggested he tell her how he plans to make over his career next.

Billy shared that he wanted to build something but didn’t know what yet. He said he wanted it to be something about his own dreams, not fulfilling someone else’s. Billy knew he was at Chancellor for the wrong reasons and credited Sally for helping him see that. Billy explained that when you do something for the right reasons, it feels good and has a real shot at success. He didn’t think he had a chance to really prove himself at Chancellor, and that’s why he had wanted revenge, but he was headed in the right direction now. “I have let go of all that rage and anger,” Billy shared. Sally wasn’t so sure.

Sally advised it took time to let go but Billy said he wasn’t going to walk around town with a wounded look on his face. Sally didn’t think Billy cared enough about Victor to do that, but Billy told her it was about his mom. He wasn’t sure how to move forward with her. Billy knew that in the past, he couldn’t handle it properly and move on harboring resentment, and he didn’t want to do that this time. “I really want to get this right,” Billy said.

Billy and Sally brainstormed about what his next move could be, and Sally advised him to use his feelings to figure out what he would feel passionate about. They determined he liked building ChanceComm and the TV show he did with Restless Style, as well as podcasts. Sally pointed out that he liked media, and if he did something with that, he’d be in direct competition with Adam.

Billy and Sally began kissing as he wooed her with a little French. He said if she could put his house together so quickly before whisking him away to Paris, he could impress her with a little French. Sally said she was finding this new Billy Abbott incredibly sexy. She teased him as she backed up towards the bedroom, then pulled his hand into the room. They kissed and began undressing before falling into the bed together. Later, Billy went to get more champagne from the living room and stopped to text Jill. “We need to talk. There’s a lot I have to say,” he wrote.

Ian came into the motel room with a rose in hand. He called out to Jordan and told his “sweetheart” that he wanted to kiss and make up. Instead of Jordan, he found Michael Baldwin waiting for him. He told him he assumed the rose was for Jordan and said he should have brought lilies. Ian said he had tried to talk to Victor but was done with veiled threats. Michael told Ian that Victor required his immediate presence.

Ian said it was late and wanted to call it a night. He asked Michael to extend his regrets to Victor, but Michael told him he needed to insist. Michael told Ian that Jordan took her own life earlier that evening. “I don’t know anyone by that name,” Ian said. Michael retorted that was odd as Ian had ministered to her on several occasions while she was incarcerated, and “someone” arranged for a lookalike so she could go free. Ian told Michael he would pray for that woman, whoever she was, and to tell Victor he would pray for him as well. As he opened the door to dismiss Michael, he saw Mortenson, Victor’s guard. Mortenson pulled back his jacket and showed Ian his gun in a holster. “I think it’s better you tell him yourself,” Michael advised.

Nick came into Sharon’s house, and a frantic Mariah explained that Tessa and Aria weren’t home when she got there. She was holding Aria’s favorite stuffed animal noting that Tessa would have never left it behind. Sharon wondered if Jordan was behind their disappearance, but Nick told them Jordan was dead. He said they needed to focus on Ian because he was still a threat to Mariah and her whole family.

Mariah recounted the argument she and Tessa had but noted there was no sign of a struggle, and the car was gone. Mariah didn’t think Tessa would leave without saying something and just let Mariah worry, especially with everything they had gone through lately. Nick agreed and said he needed to tell his dad because before Jordan died, she confirmed that Ian had come back to Genoa City for Mariah.

Mariah was horrified and even more worried about Tessa and Aria. She thought Ian might be behind their disappearance. Nick said they were going to stay calm, but Mariah said she knew Ian best and thought he would want her to suffer. Nick hoped Mariah was wrong but worried she was right. He said adamantly that they would find Ian and bring Tessa and Aria home safely.

Nick thought that considering Ian’s obsession with Mariah, he probably hadn’t gone far. Mariah was going out of her mind, not being out there looking for Tessa and Aria. Nick thought that Ian’s past pattern would say he would contact her soon. Mariah sobbed. Sharon and Nick convinced Mariah to lie down, but Sharon said she knew she wouldn’t sleep until the nightmare was over. Nick said he would call Chance and tell his dad what was going on.

Mariah came back downstairs and said she couldn’t rest. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see Ian’s face laughing at her. She noted how many times she’d had the opportunity to end his life and didn’t and wondered if she was a coward. “I swear to God, if I ever get the opportunity again, I’m not going to let it pass,” Mariah seethed. She tried calling Tessa again and got her voicemail. She left a message about how she regretted their fight and begged her to call her back.

Sharon gave Mariah a pep talk about survival and noted that Tessa was strong and a fighter. Mariah said that everything, including Heather’s death, was all on her. “So I wanted Ian obliterated. I want him wiped from the face of this earth,” she said determinedly.

At the ranch house, Ian sat in a chair in the living room as Victor greeted him with sarcasm about gracing them with his presence. Ian asked what he wanted from him this time. “I would like to hear your last confession,” Victor told him. Ian said his conscience was clear but would happily counsel them about their sins. Victor laughed and said Ian’s day of judgment would be coming soon.

Ian told Victor he’d humor him and asked what he wanted him to confess. Victor said to start with Heather’s murder. Ian claimed he’d read about Sharon’s confession online and wondered why he’d want him to take responsibility for something someone else did. Victor insisted that Ian either confessed to killing Heather and exonerated Sharon, or he’d meet the same fate as Jordan.

Victor told Ian that Jordan had taken her own life and there was no reason for Ian to live anymore. Michael agreed that it would be understandable, as cult leaders were known for suicide pacts. Michael showed Ian that he had a confession already typed and said that Ian was going to sign it.

Ian said that he couldn’t be forced to sign anything and reminded them that he’d written his own letter that he gave to the police to warn them that if anything happened to him, it would be because of the Newmans. Michael told Ian that several close friends of theirs in the GCPD knew of the letter and made it go away. Ian said if that were true, he’d be dead already, but Victor noted that Ian took Sharon to buy time.

Ian once again claimed he had no knowledge of Sharon’s disappearance. “Now that Sharon is safely home, there is no reason for you to live,” Victor told Ian. “Actually, that’s not true,” Nick said as he entered the room. Nick demanded Ian to tell them what happened to Tessa and Aria. Ian claimed he had no idea why he would do anything to someone whose life he had just saved.

Ian continued to deny killing Heather and taking Tessa and Aria. Nick snapped and screamed at Ian, saying that he was sick of all of his lies. He demanded that Ian tell them immediately where Tessa and Aria were. “Or what, you’ll smite me?” Ian scoffed. Nick told Ian he was going to do a lot worse than that.

Mortsenson grabbed Ian by the lapel and roughly dragged him out of the chair, but as he did, Ian was able to grab his gun. “Get back!” he snapped as he pointed the gun at everyone. “Well, well, well…it looks like I’m about to have something to confess to,” Ian told them.

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