The Young and the Restless – Episode 161 of Season 50 aired on May 19th 2023 – At Crimson Lights, an observer peered through the window, watching Sharon (Sharon Case). Sally (Courtney Hope) made her way into the coffeehouse through the patio doors, overhearing Adam expressing his uncertainty about being a father to a girl after seeing Aria. Sharon assured him that it didn’t matter if they were having a boy or a girl, as he already knew the basics of being a parent and would learn the rest as their child grew. Adam mentioned that having a daughter made him think of his mother and expressed his hope that their daughter would inherit qualities from both Sharon and Sally, while hoping she wouldn’t take after him except for his chin and impeccable sense of timing.
Adam (Mark Grossman) told Sharon that raising Connor (Judah Mackey) had been easy because he had simply taught Connor not to be like him or Victor. Sharon reassured him that he would be just as good a father to their daughter as he had been to his son. Sally entered the conversation and agreed with Sharon, after which Adam stepped away to attend to some business. Sally confessed to Sharon that she had made things awkward between herself and Adam, to which Sharon assured her that they would figure out the co-parenting dynamics. Sally wondered if the conflict between her and Adam would affect the baby, but Sharon explained that the baby took cues from its mother and that it was normal to experience a range of emotions during pregnancy.
Sharon asked Sally to look after Aria for a moment while she checked something in the back room. During Sharon’s absence, Adam expressed his discomfort with Sally feeling uneasy around him. Sally claimed she didn’t feel that way, but Adam acknowledged Sharon’s advice that Sally should embrace and enjoy her time with their growing baby. He recognized Sally’s need for affection and support from Nick (Joshua Morrow), expressing that they were in this together as parents. Sally agreed, acknowledging that it wouldn’t be fair to deny Adam the joy of becoming a father again. Adam apologized for any anxiety he had caused and admitted that Sally’s words had struck a chord with him. He confessed that he still loved her and found being around her difficult, but he didn’t want to add unnecessary stress to her pregnancy. Sally questioned how they should proceed given the imminent arrival of their baby, asking if he could respect her boundaries and prioritize the well-being of their child.
Adam assured Sally that he would work on his emotions and let go of any hope for a romantic future between them. He emphasized that caring for their baby was their top priority. Sally thanked him for his commitment, seeking reassurance that he genuinely meant it. Adam confirmed his sincerity. When Sharon returned, Sally excused herself, leaving Adam and Sharon to continue their conversation. Sharon inquired about the Champagne she had received, and Adam admitted he hadn’t sent it but expressed his gratitude to her for their friendship. Sharon recognized the Champagne but couldn’t recall where she had seen it before.
Meanwhile, the mysterious stranger continued to watch Sharon through the window. At Society, Nick informed Victor (Eric Braeden) about Victoria’s (Amelia Heinle) involvement with Nate. Nick expressed his concern, particularly regarding Nate’s rapid ascent from being a surgeon to overseeing Newman Media. He mentioned Nate’s unsuccessful attempt to take over their family’s company and his current relationship with Victoria, considering it a potential threat to her and Newman Enterprises.
Nick questioned Victor’s confidence in Nate, highlighting Victoria’s history of poor judgment when it came to men. Victor defended Nate (Sean Dominic), stating that he was not like Ashland Locke (Robert Newman), Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson), or J.T., and that Victoria was fully aware of her choices. He found it ironic that Nick would question Victoria’s relationships while fiercely defending his own relationship with Sally. Victor predicted that both relationships would come to an end soon. Nick disagreed, asserting that his relationship with Sally was strong, and he had no intention of walking away from her.
Nick emphasized that if Victoria and Nate’s relationship could be built on love and mutual respect, he would accept it, but he believed it was unlikely to happen. At Newman, Nate and Victoria discussed a potential business acquisition in Los Angeles. They expressed confidence in their pitch and the likelihood of sealing the deal. Nate received a text message from Elena, informing him where to send her belongings to a storage facility.
Victoria asked Nate about his feelings regarding Elena (Brytni Sarpy) moving out. Nate admitted that it was inevitable, given their diverging paths and priorities. He shouldered responsibility for their breakup and confessed to feeling intense guilt. Nate explained that they had grown apart since he left the hospital, losing the common bond they once shared. He expressed remorse for cheating on Elena and causing her pain. Nate mentioned that people were becoming aware of their breakup and would ask why it happened, which would only deepen Elena’s pain. Victoria questioned if Nate would reconsider their relationship once the truth about her involvement with Phyllis surfaced. Nate adamantly stated that he wouldn’t change his mind, as his decision was final, and he kissed Victoria. Victoria acknowledged feeling a slight sense of responsibility, but Nate assured her that she wasn’t to blame. They decided to get a drink together and left the venue.
In the jazz lounge at the Athletic Club, Ashley, Tucker (Trevor St. John), Devon (Bryton James), and Abby (Melissa Ordway) enjoyed the ambiance. Abby asked about the situation at the Abbott house, but Ashley requested they avoid discussing it. Tucker asked Abby for a dance, and although initially hesitant, she agreed. Abby remarked on Tucker’s late-night energy despite attending Dominic’s music class earlier. Tucker acknowledged Abby’s protectiveness toward Dominic and Ashley (Eileen Davidson) and appreciated her willingness to tolerate him. He expressed his desire to convince Abby and Ashley that he had changed. Abby regarded his flattery as transparent, and Tucker revealed that he had proposed to Ashley. Abby reacted with surprise, and Tucker explained that it hadn’t been a real proposal as he had hoped to steal the spotlight from Jack and Diane (Susan Walters). He admitted that Ashley hadn’t accepted the proposal, but he desired a genuine marriage with her. Abby was relieved, while Tucker expressed his determination to sweep Ashley off her feet with a spectacular proposal that she couldn’t refuse. Abby reacted with distaste.
After Tucker and Ashley left, Devon expressed his reservations about Tucker and Ashley’s relationship, considering their past ups and downs with Tucker. However, Ashley noted that Tucker had surprised her in a positive way recently. Abby confronted Ashley about Tucker’s proposal, demanding to know if she had accepted. Ashley glanced at Tucker, who revealed that he hadn’t been aware it was meant to be a secret, but he believed Ashley would make him the happiest man in the world if she said yes.
Ashley clarified that she hadn’t told Abby about the proposal because it hadn’t been genuine. Tucker interjected, claiming that his proposal had been sincere, but he had hoped it would evolve into a real commitment based on genuine reasons. Abby felt relieved, and Tucker reminded them that they had a history together. He expressed his desire to blow Ashley’s mind with a spectacular proposal when the time was right. Abby reacted with a disdainful expression.
Devon and Abby discussed their uncertain feelings about Tucker and Ashley’s relationship, with Abby finding it weird. In the main lounge of the Athletic Club, Tessa suggested they have some caviar, but Mariah suggested they skip the main course and dessert and go home early to relieve Sharon. Mariah insisted that their date night was a reminder of their adult life beyond parenting duties. Tessa mentioned that she needed to take care of a few things. Mariah, however, asserted that she would take care of the bill, and they shared a kiss.
Later in their suite, Mariah and Tessa expressed their love for each other and made love. Afterward, they discussed their shared responsibility of raising Aria and how they had a supportive community around them. They emphasized the importance of taking care of themselves as a couple.
At the Athletic Club, Nate and Victoria arrived and sat at the bar. After finishing their drinks, they retired to a suite and made love. Nate received a text message from Audra, which he ignored, fully engrossed in his time with Victoria.
Chance visited the Abbott home, looking for Jack. Summer informed him that she didn’t know Jack’s whereabouts but explained that Jack had called Chance cryptically, mentioning a new development in the search for Phyllis. Chance shared that Christine believed it to be a bluff and part of Michael’s defense strategy. Summer believed Phyllis was alive and questioned Chance’s skepticism, pointing out Daniel’s confirmation of seeing Phyllis. Chance expressed his doubts about the inconsistencies in the story and suspected Summer was withholding something from him. Summer admitted to keeping her conversations with Daniel a secret and revealed that they had argued about Phyllis. She believed Daniel’s account and expressed concern for Phyllis when she returned. Summer asked what they could do to help Phyllis.
Summer explained that Jack and Kyle wanted to bring Phyllis back to absolve Diane, but she wanted to protect her mother as well. She admitted that she feared losing Phyllis to prison. Chance mentioned the new evidence Jack had discovered, which could change everything. Summer pressed Chance to admit whether he believed Phyllis was alive. Chance revealed that he was honest with her and asked for the same in return. He questioned Summer about her arguments with Daniel and suspected that they had known about Phyllis being alive for longer than they had let on.
Chance mentioned witnessing their argument at the coffeehouse and Daniel’s evasiveness when he inquired about it. Summer claimed they had kept it to themselves to avoid discussing it with others. Chance believed that Daniel had been seeking information about Diane and worried about her avoiding punishment for crimes she didn’t commit. He proposed that if someone other than Daniel confirmed the story and had seen or spoken to Phyllis, it would convince him of its truth. Summer admitted that she hadn’t told Kyle about seeing Phyllis and was prepared to let Diane stand trial for a murder she knew she didn’t commit.
Chance concluded that Summer wanted his help, but he needed all the facts to fully understand the complicated case. He encouraged her to share everything so that he could assist her. Summer became defensive, accusing Chance of interrogating her. Chance assured her of his willingness to help but emphasized the importance of uncovering all the details. He mentioned their argument at the coffeehouse, implying that Summer and Daniel had known about Phyllis for some time. Summer claimed she hadn’t been ready to accept the truth until recently.
Summer admitted that she believed Phyllis was alive, and they discussed their concern for Phyllis’ situation. Chance agreed to help if all the facts aligned, including someone else corroborating the story. Summer revealed that she felt hurt by Phyllis not reaching out to her and acknowledged that it seemed odd given their strong connection. Chance believed that Phyllis would have contacted Summer first if she were alive. Summer reluctantly confirmed that she had seen Phyllis but hadn’t shared the information with Kyle. Chance questioned her actions, suggesting that she and Daniel had known about Phyllis framing Diane and committing murder. Summer urged him to help her protect Phyllis, fearing the consequences if Phyllis returned and faced trial. Chance assured her that the new evidence Jack had found could change everything.
Chance observed that he had been honest with her, and he requested the same honesty from her. He asked about their arguments and what they were trying to figure out. Summer explained that they believed Phyllis was dead and
that Phyllis’ apparent murder had been orchestrated by Summer’s mother-in-law. She claimed tensions arose when they discovered Daniel had seen Phyllis and hadn’t immediately told her. Chance realized that Summer and Daniel had known about Phyllis for some time and were discussing how to handle the truth about Phyllis framing Diane and committing murder.
Chance expressed his willingness to help but needed a complete picture of the situation. Summer, feeling interrogated, told Chance to help her only if he truly wanted to. Chance assured her that he did but stressed the importance of having all the information. He mentioned their argument at the coffeehouse, implying that Summer and Daniel had known about Phyllis’ actions.
Stay tuned for the next episode of The Young and the Restless as the drama continues to unfold.
Watch the episode on ParamountPlus!
