The Young and the Restless Recap, December 29, 2025: Nick offers Matt one million dollars for Sienna’s safe return

On the Monday, December 29th episode of The Young and the Restless, Billy defended Phyllis to Jack, Sharon tried to calm Noah, and Matt weighed his options.

What happened on The Young and the Restless

At Crimson Lights, Phyllis noticed Billy staring at his bare wrist and asked if he’d lost something. He replied that he was looking at the Christmas gift his kids had given him, and she asked whether it was an invisible watch. Billy explained that his children had gotten him a box to put his watch in as their way of telling him to slow down. Phyllis wondered whether his kids had also taken his phone, since he hadn’t called to finalize their deal for her to help save Jabot.

Billy shared that the Abbotts had decided to put Phyllis on the back burner because Jack wanted to consider other options. Phyllis huffed that she might not be available when those options failed. Billy revealed that he’d defended her to his brother, but Jack didn’t trust her not to double-cross them. Billy suggested that Jack might change his mind if she told the truth about what Victor had offered her in exchange for the AI program.

Phyllis maintained that she’d never been in cahoots with Victor, and she didn’t know if he even had the AI software. Billy argued that Victor had already used the program on Cane, and she was the best in the business at hacking computers. Phyllis was insulted at the implication that she had no other talents or qualities. She wished people would acknowledge that she was a good mom who was compassionate and giving with her friends and family. Billy recognized that she was those things, but she kept making deals with the devil.

Billy surmised that Victor had cut Phyllis loose, and he warned that the Abbotts were about to do the same thing if she didn’t tell them what they wanted to know. Phyllis insisted that Summer was her only motivation to help Jabot, and she wanted her daughter out of the line of fire in the constant battle between the Newmans and the Abbotts. Phyllis cited the way Billy’s face had lit up when he’d talked about his gift from his kids, who wanted him to know they supported him and his efforts to change.

Phyllis said she’d give anything for Daniel and Summer to do the same thing for her, and getting Marchetti for her daughter couldn’t even touch upon what she owed Summer. Billy called it the most honest thing Phyllis had ever said to him, and he believed her. He added that he’d forge ahead with her plan if it were up to him, but she had to convince Jack.

At the Abbott mansion, Jack left a voicemail for Diane, letting her know that Kyle was trying to buy time with Jabot’s suppliers. He inquired whether she’d heard from Michael, and he mentioned that he was waiting for a call from Nikki. Jack assured Diane they would win. The doorbell rang, and he let Phyllis in. She announced that she was there to give him his company back.

Jack assumed Billy had told Phyllis that her offer was off the table, but she suggested Jack put it back on. Phyllis demanded to know what had changed since the Abbotts had offered her a small fortune to get the AI program back from Victor. Jack considered Phyllis to be a loose cannon, and he preferred to pursue other options. Phyllis demanded that he tell her what or who he was dumping her for.

Jack divulged that his new option didn’t include hacking, so Phyllis’ skills were no longer required. Phyllis guessed that he had someone on the inside. Jack refused to share his plans and declared that they were done. He politely wished her a happy new year, and she calmly wished him the same before walking out.

Billy entered the mansion and noted that he’d seen Phyllis leaving. Jack relayed that he’d told her they were looking at other options, but Billy thought Phyllis was still their best one. Billy sensed that she had been on the level about supporting Summer, and he trusted Phyllis to get the job done more than relying on Michael or Nikki to betray Victor. Billy proposed that they implement all three plans and see which one wins.

Billy reasoned that their troubles would be over if they got hold of the AI program. Jack stressed that they would destroy it, and Billy halfheartedly agreed. Jack said he had a familiar feeling about Billy and what his complicated brain was thinking. Meanwhile, Phyllis left a message for Michael, asking to meet.

At the overlook in Chancellor Park, Matt approached Nick and warned him not to stand too close to the railing because it was a big fall. Nick demanded to know where Sienna was. Matt ominously indicated that his wife was somewhere safe, but he didn’t know where she might end up if his meeting with Nick didn’t go well. Matt hoped Nick had followed his directions and not alerted the police or Victor’s goons, or Sienna would end up dead. Nick swore it was just him.

Matt bragged that it had been a neat trick to fake his death years earlier, but there wasn’t time to tell Nick how he’d done it. Matt referred to the deal Nick had mentioned over the phone. Nick snapped that it wasn’t a negotiation, since Victor had ruined Matt financially. Nick offered one million dollars in exchange for Sienna’s safe return, provided that Matt disappeared.

Matt taunted that Nick was all talk and no action, and he bet Nick was dying to hear how Matt had faked his own death. Nick dryly stated that it was nice to hear his nemesis admit that he was Matt Clark. Matt figured that he had nothing left to protect, since the Newmans had once again screwed him. Matt condemned Nick’s family for using money to solve all their problems, and he scoffed at a million dollars being enough.

Matt pondered whether he should have taken Noah instead, since there would have been more zeroes on the offer. Matt noted that Nick barely knew Sienna, but Nick contended that his son cared about her. Matt mocked Noah’s puppy love, and he cracked that he’d be doing Noah a favor by putting him down. Nick slugged Matt multiple times and threatened to toss him into the ravine. Matt pointed out that Sienna would die if Nick followed through, and Noah would never forgive Nick.

Matt considered throwing himself over the rail to make everyone think Nick pushed him, and he crowed that it would be just like old times. Matt pictured Nick spending the rest of his life in prison. Nick opted to take his chances with the police, expecting that he’d walk like he had the last time Matt had tried to set him up for murder. Matt stood back from the railing, and Nick proclaimed that Matt was the one who was all talk. Nick prompted Matt to take the million-dollar deal.

Matt agreed to take the money and live to fight another day. Matt said once he was safely out of the country, he’d send his account information for an offshore transfer, and then he’d disclose where Sienna was. Nick hissed that he’d hunt Matt down to the ends of the earth if he ever went after anyone in Nick’s family again. Matt insisted that they do it his way or not at all, before stalking off.

At the cottage, Sharon suggested that she and Noah take a walk to take his mind off things, but he fretted that he didn’t know if Sienna was alive or dead. He thought he should have gone to meet Matt, and Sharon questioned what Noah would have done if he had gone instead of Nick. Noah anticipated that he would have beaten Sienna’s location out of Matt. Sharon lectured that he would have played right into Matt’s hands – and signed Sienna’s death warrant.

Sharon handed Noah a beer to take the edge off, but he couldn’t relax. Noah wondered why the army of people they had looking for Sienna hadn’t found her yet, so he headed to the door to join the search for her. Sharon sternly stated that she could make a call to have a dozen people show up to stop him. Noah bemoaned that he was his mother’s prisoner, but Sharon protested that she was only trying to protect him. Noah thought she didn’t understand how deep his love for Sienna was. Sharon asked if he’d felt the same way about Allie, and she pressed to know what had happened between them.

Noah vaguely stated that people broke up and moved on, but Sharon recalled that he and Allie had been happy just a few months earlier. Noah claimed that things had already been shaky, but he hadn’t wanted his mother to worry because she’d been going through enough. Noah explained that he and Allie had inevitably drifted apart when they’d been based in different cities, and it hadn’t had anything to do with Sienna. Sharon continued to pepper him with questions about how he and Sienna had met, but Noah said all he cared about was getting Sienna back alive and safe.

Sharon swore she hadn’t meant to pry. Noah groaned that he was just going crazy with worry, and he wondered why they hadn’t heard from Nick. Sharon firmly stated that she wasn’t worried, since Matt was desperate. Sharon called Matt a classic narcissist whose only priority was himself when his own skin was at stake. Sharon confirmed that Nick didn’t plan to let Matt just walk away, but they had to let Matt think he could. Nick returned, and Noah asked if Sienna was okay.

Nick explained that he’d only started to put things into motion, but Matt had said Sienna was still alive. Nick revealed that Matt wouldn’t tell them where she was until he got his payoff and was safely out of the country. Noah ranted that they couldn’t just let the madman leave. Nick insisted that they let it play out.

Meanwhile, Matt joined Annie in a motel room and glowered down at an unconscious Sienna on the bed. Matt reported that Nick had offered him a nice chunk of change. Matt intended to take the payoff, but he hadn’t yet decided if he’d give Sienna back. Matt added that the million-dollar question was whether or not he’d let Noah live.

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