Is Lauren really going to leave Michael on The Young and the Restless?

Wednesday's episode of The Young and the Restless was a difficult one for Lauren (Tracey Bregman), now that she discovered Michael (Christian LeBlanc) is working for the tyrannical Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) again. She thought and hoped that he was tired of taking orders from Victor, even though he missed his friendship and even viewed Victor as a father figure.

Lauren's been through this before, considering Michael tried to leave Victor many times over the years. But he kept returning to him and putting himself in precarious situations for Victor's benefit. Will she finally tell her husband she's had it and leave him for good?

What happened Wednesday, on The Young and the Restless

On Wednesday's episode of The Young and the Restless, Lauren and Nikki chatted at Crimson Lights about Michael as Lauren fretted over his secretive behavior. Is he back in Victor's orbit, following his exhausting orders again? She saw how that emotionally drained Michael all the years he was Victor's lawyer, and how Victor's vendetta against Jack (Peter Bergman) took a toll on Michael.

The conversation was riveting and dramatic, as we witnessed these two legacy female characters and long-time friends bond over their mutual frustration with their husbands. Lauren didn't let their friendship stop her from giving Nikki hard truths. She accused Nikki of turning a blind eye to Victor's cruelty. It's interesting because Diane (Susan Walters) once accused Nikki of the very same thing.

Then Lauren really put Nikki in the hot seat and asked, "How can you sit by and watch Victor plot to take down Jack, the man who saved your life?" Great point, Lauren! We applaud you for going there. A shaken Nikki confessed she hates Victor's feud with Jack, and she begged him to end it. He will not listen, but she loves him and won't leave him.

"And I know you love Michael the same way," she said. "Those two stubborn, brilliant men are our destiny." (Now that's the kind of delicious, soapy dialogue we live for!) Still, Lauren is tired of watching Michael do Victor's bidding. Could Nikki find out if he's working for Victor again?

Nikki asked Victor without directly asking him

In Victor's office, Nikki tried to get the answer from him without directly asking him. Victor, of course, gave her cryptic and elusive answers, but that told her everything she needed to know. She left the office and called Lauren, telling her she definitely had a feeling something fishy was going on between Michael and Victor.

With all the plotting we've been watching lately between the Y&R men -- namely Cane (Billy Flynn), Billy (Jason Thompson), Victor, Jack, and Michael -- it's fun to watch a couple of the ladies do some plotting of their own, trying to smoke out information from their scheming husbands. Little did Victor know Nikki was taking what she got from their conversation and passing it on to Lauren. Way to go, Nikki!

Michael finally confessed

Now that Michael has finally admitted he's had contact with Victor and wants to work for him again, is Lauren going to keep sticking it out with him? Or will she end her marriage due to the strain his stressful relationship with Victor has put on them?

Lauren and Michael have one of the longest-running marriages on The Young and the Restless. That fact alone makes them a remarkable couple, and they genuinely love and respect each other. December 2025 marks their twentieth wedding anniversary. After all the challenges and obstacles they've overcome, will she seriously consider ending her marriage over his unbreakable connection to Victor? Come on, Lauren, don't give The Mustache that kind of power.

We assume she will separate from Michael for a while, and he will try to hash things out with her. Something feels different with her this time, though. It feels like she's reached her breaking point. But we hope it isn't quite that bad. They've been great role models for all the other couples on the show.

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Their marriage has survived attacks from Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) and Tom Fisher (Roscoe Born), Lauren's affair with Carmine Basco (Marco Dapper), Michael's battle with prostate cancer, and much more. They've been on the brink of divorce before, but they managed to work it out. Maybe they can do it again? Michael and Lauren fans sure hope so!

Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.

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