The Young and the Restless Recap, August 4, 2025: Victor’s disrespectful toast infuriates Claire

On the Monday, August 4th episode of The Young and the Restless, the Newmans said goodbye to Cole, Cane asked Billy to be part of his takeover plan, and Claire had enough of Victor’s disapproval.

What happened on The Young and the Restless

Lily and Chelsea ran into one another at Crimson Lights. Chelsea voiced her condolences about Damian, and she confirmed that she knew Cane was Dumas. Chelsea recalled that she’d sensed something was off when Cane had shown up in town suddenly a couple of weeks earlier. Lily was appalled that Cane had been lying the whole time about there being a way in and out of the chateau.

Lily realized that Damian and Chance might still be alive if they’d been able to leave France sooner. Lily snarled that the deaths were on Cane, and she’d never forgive him for it. Chelsea recounted that Cane had told her he knew Dumas well, but he’d run off when she’d pushed for more answers. Lily contended that Cane was no longer the man she’d married, and she didn’t recognize him at all.

Lily suspected Cane had changed when his father had wormed his way back into his life. She believed the creation of Aristotle Dumas had been Colin’s masterpiece. Chelsea supposed that the fact Cane had been purchasing real estate in Genoa City meant he was planning something big there. Lily shared that her family was on guard, but she didn’t know how they could protect themselves against a threat they didn’t understand.

Lily lamented that the twins didn’t know about Cane’s life as Dumas yet, and she didn’t know how to tell them that their father had been lying to the world for six years. Lily inquired about Adam and Connor. Chelsea reported that her son was getting stronger every day and that she and Adam were happier than ever. Lily wondered if it was hard having Victor pulling the strings. Chelsea chirped that Adam was finally stepping out of his father’s shadow and becoming his own man.

As Lily sipped her coffee, she flashed back to admonishing Cane for deceiving her and demanding to know how they’d explain things to their kids. She stared at the innocuous text message exchange she’d had with Mattie and Charlie before she’d left for Nice. Lily left the twins a voicemail to try to coordinate a time to talk together. She begged them to reach out to their father because there were some things Cane wanted to tell them.

At the tack house, Nikki, Victoria, and Claire commiserated over the tough day they were facing. Kyle arrived with a bouquet of flowers, and he quickly explained that he’d run into a delivery guy outside. Victoria reported that the blooms were from Nate, who couldn’t attend Cole’s memorial because he was in Chicago with Amy to arrange Damian’s funeral. Nikki warned that Kyle riding to the service with the family was guaranteed to set Victor off.

Claire explained that Kyle had offered to meet them at the ceremony, but she’d objected because he shouldn’t have to sneak in like an uninvited guest. She added that Cole had genuinely liked Kyle, and her boyfriend should be there with her on a day that would be hard enough without worrying about Victor’s feelings. Victoria predicted there would be a fallout. Claire refused to let Victor push Kyle away on the day she needed her beau most. Victoria suggested that they put aside what Victor might do because the day was about Cole.

At the new Newman ranch, Adam greeted Victor and Nick. Nick indicated that Christian thought he’d been away on a long business trip and had no idea about the insanity that had happened in Nice. Victor noted that a lot of things had happened in Genoa City, too. Adam referred to Cane’s real estate dealings, but Victor clarified that he’d been talking about Adam’s failure to launch a series of articles about Billy.

Adam defended that the stories had been ready to go, but he’d dropped everything to figure out what was going on in France when he hadn’t been able to communicate with Victor. Adam swore that he hadn’t held off on publishing the articles to spite Victor but to protect the family. Victor agreed to give Adam a pass that time, but he expected Adam to do what he asked from then on.

Nick argued that they’d gotten answers to their questions in France, and it would feel like going backwards to drag Billy into it. Adam proposed that they move forward by forgetting about Billy and concentrating on the real threat. Victor lectured that they were both failing to grasp that Billy was about to partner with Cane. Victor growled that he wanted Billy crushed and Cane’s deception exposed.

Nikki, Victoria, Claire, and Kyle arrived at the ranch. Nikki privately advised Victor not to say anything to Kyle that day, and Victor replied that he knew what he was doing. Victor crossed over to Claire and assured her that her family was there for her. Claire responded that it meant a lot that Kyle was there, too. Ignoring Kyle, Victor steered Victoria away, and she testily asked what he was doing. Claire complained that Victor couldn’t just let go for one day. Kyle assured her it didn’t matter because they were going to be fine, and they embraced.

Nikki asked if Victoria was ready. Victoria wailed that every time she thought about Cole, she couldn’t stop feeling how unfair it was when they’d just been getting started again. Nikki urged her daughter to lean on her.

Adam revisited the topic of Billy with Victor, who said he’d been very explicit about releasing a barrage of negative press about Billy and Cane. Adam protested, but Victor ordered him to get it done as Chelsea arrived. Chelsea hoped Adam would keep his promise about not slandering Billy. Nick cautioned that Adam couldn’t play both sides. Victor announced the cars were ready, and the group filed out.

Later, the Newmans returned to the ranch, commenting about the beautiful service. Nikki complimented Claire’s heartfelt speech, and Chelsea gushed that the poem Claire had read had been perfect. Nikki declared the day the beginning of healing, since things would get better in time. Claire whimpered that it felt like something was missing. Nikki promised that one day, Cole’s memory would make Claire smile and not be sad. Kyle swore that Claire wouldn’t be alone.

Victor proposed a toast to Cole, and he recalled that he’d had concerns when Cole had first reappeared in Victoria’s life. Victor toasted to Cole’s love for Victoria and Claire and the fact that Cole had rightfully considered himself a member of their family. Glancing at Kyle, Victor pointedly stated that there had been many who’d tried to become a family member and had been left outside. Nikki and Victoria glared at Victor. Claire blasted Victor for using her father’s memory against Kyle.

Victoria and Kyle tried to defuse the situation, but Claire ranted that she was sick and tired of giving Victor the benefit of the doubt every time he trashed the man she loved – especially on the day of her father’s memorial. Victor noted that he hadn’t mentioned Kyle’s name once. Claire barked that they all knew what Victor had meant, and her father never would have done something like that because Cole had supported her and Kyle.

Victoria clucked that she’d warned Victor for months, but he hadn’t listened. Victor refused to apologize for doing what was best for his family. Claire spat that Victor no longer had a say in how she lived her life or who she chose to live it with. She added that she was done with his efforts to break her and Kyle up, and she stormed out.

At the Athletic Club, Phyllis arrived at Cane’s hotel suite with a gift basket. She voiced surprise that he didn’t get the penthouse suite, and he informed her that he didn’t intend to stay long because he’d be living on his train. Cane revealed that he had an identical train on every continent. She couldn’t wait to see how he conducted business.

Cane told Phyllis they had to wait for someone else to join them. Phyllis guessed it was a heavy hitter. There was a knock at the door, and Cane opened it to Billy, who welcomed Cane back to Genoa City with a toy train. Phyllis teased Billy for thinking Cane was five, and Billy criticized her generic gift basket. Billy hoped he wasn’t too late to talk business.

Cane announced that he had big plans for Genoa City, and he needed a small, dedicated team of people he trusted to help execute them. Phyllis crowed that she was trustworthy, but she expected Cane to make Billy prove he could deliver the goods. Billy and Phyllis bickered over which one of them was more trustworthy. Cane sternly stated that he needed a team that got along. Billy and Phyllis insisted that they worked together fine.

Phyllis offered to provide a list of her successes since Cane had left Genoa City. Billy huffed that it was a short list, whereas he had intimate knowledge of Chancellor. Cane revealed that Newman and Jabot were also on his agenda. Phyllis observed that Billy looked pale, but she wouldn’t care if Cane stripped Jabot down to the studs. Cane questioned whether Billy had a problem targeting his own family’s company.

Billy asked what Cane meant by targeting. Cane explained that his plan was to fold all the major companies that defined Genoa City into one powerhouse entity. Billy considered it impossible, but Cane proclaimed that nothing was impossible with a plan and financial wherewithal. Billy expected there to be pushback, and Cane replied that he was prepared for it. Billy was all for going after Newman, but he wondered what Jabot had done to deserve what felt like revenge.

Cane insisted his motives were personal and not about revenge, but the plan required loyalty and determination from Billy and Phyllis. Billy snapped that he was there to talk about Cane investing in Abbott Communications, but Cane was instead asking him to hitch himself to a cyclone. Cane offered to sweeten the pot by folding Abbott Communications into his new creation.

Billy requested time to think. Phyllis squealed that she was all in. Billy pointed out that he could tell Jack about Cane’s plans, but Cane countered that it wouldn’t stop him. Billy stuttered that Cane was either delusional or had a secret weapon. “Join us. Find out,” Cane beseeched.

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