The Young and the Restless Recap, December 30: Jack is running out of options as Victor closes in

Here’s the full recap of what happened on The Young and the Restless on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.

What happened on The Young and the Restless

At Sally’s apartment, where Audra dropped by for a visit. Audra commented that she didn’t have a job to get back to, so she had the free time to stop by. Audra joked about relating to the misfit tree that Billy and his children put up. Sally surprised Audra with a present, despite agreeing not to buy anything for each other.

Audra felt guilty that she didn't have a gift of her own to give her best friend. Sally wasn’t anticipating reciprocation. She simply saw something that she thought would bring a smile to Audra’s face. The gift was revealed to be a bag that Audra wanted more than anything. However, she waited to purchase it until she was on better footing in her professional life.

Audra didn’t think anyone in her life had been this thoughtful before. She couldn’t thank her enough, but Sally said their friendship was the greatest gift of all. Sally wanted to hear the latest updates on Audra’s life, and she immediately told her about running into her ex, Noah. Audra was surprised at how sweet Noah had been to her. Nobody was ever kind to her, and she considered Sally her one and only friend.

Audra recognized how people didn’t like her. She was used to it. Nothing happening was new to her. Audra was used to being hated, so it was par for the course. Audra used everyone’s disdain as fuel to work harder toward her goals. She refused to let anyone win. Sally realized that something had rattled Audra, and Audra confessed she had a run-in with Claire.

Audra wanted to put Claire in her place once and for all. She had officially reached her breaking point. Sally was floored when Audra said Claire had thrown a drink in her face. Sally asked her to back up the story and tell her what led to the altercation. Audra recounted how she saw Kyle break things off with Claire, which led her to go inside and make a comment that didn’t sit well with Claire.

To Sally’s dismay, Audra had no plans to let bygones be bygones. She couldn’t let it go. Audra was finished being knocked around by Claire with no consequences for her actions. Sally asked what happened between Audra and Holden that had her so worked up about him, too. Audea instantly flashed back to the memory of the death that came as a result of her and Holden’s actions.

Audra left Sally worried when she said no one would uncover what really happened in Los Angeles. Her choice of words was chilling. Audra returned the conversation to her gratitude for the gift Sally had given her. Sally joked that she had started to think Audra and Holden had covered up a major crime, which was Audra’s cue to leave.

At Chancellor Park, Holden met with Claire, who apologized to him for racing out of Society after the recent run-in with Audra. Claire knew that throwing water in her face was an extreme move, but she had no regrets. She felt good being the person to finally put the town pariah in her place.

Holden reflected on how much Claire had transformed since they first met. However, Claire didn’t think it was too big a stretch for her to resort to reality. Her button had been pushed too far. Holden urged Claire to let him handle her, but Claire wasn’t satisfied. She didn’t want anyone fighting her battles. Audra was her problem, despite Holden’s insistence that she let it go.

Holden promised to ensure that Audra stopped causing trouble for her. Claire wasn’t down for that plan because of their twisted past together. Claire harkened back to Los Angeles, and she knew there was more to the story, per Sienna’s own words. Claire wanted to know what Holden had left out of his prior confession. She made it clear that she’d dig into it further, whether he was a willing participant or not.

Claire was adamant that Holden withheld key pieces of the story. She wished he would just admit that there was more to his past with Audra. Holden tried to dissuade her from delving deeper into the situation, but when she didn’t listen, he changed the subject. He asked about her breakup with Kyle, and she explained how tough times had been for Kyle, and he couldn’t hold out any longer.

Claire admitted that Kyle’s breakup caught her by surprise. Things had been on a better track lately, so it came out of nowhere for her. Holden's showing up changed everything. Kyle was unaware that she and Holden still spent time together, but it still felt like a sudden reaction to her.

With her relationship firmly behind her, Claire could proceed without worrying about how her actions could hurt Kyle. Holden suggested he and Claire go on a real date, now that she was free of Kyle. Claire agreed to go on a date with him, but she had a condition: confess everything about Audra or no dice. Holden warned her that she wouldn’t like the truth of what went down.

Billy and Jack got together at Society to discuss the ongoing issue plaguing Jabot. Billy still had reservations about relying on Nikki to betray Victor as the sole means to save their company. Jack reminded his little brother that it was the holidays, so Nikki was focused on her family. Despite this, Billy pointed out how Nikki ran a successful corporation of her own, so she knew how time was of the essence.

Before the gentlemen could continue their conversation, Victor emerged behind Billy and taunted him and Jack. Victor asked Jack whose idea it was to shut down the company, and why. Billy fired back that Victor knew exactly why they did it. Victor laughed and celebrated Jabot Cosmetics circling the drain.

Jack vowed to burn his family’s company to the ground before he ever allowed Victor to assume possession of it. Billy wanted to punch Victor, but Jack held him off. He urged Billy not to sink to the gutter like Victor. Billy threatened Victor that someone would soon knock him off his pedestal. However, the mustache wasn't intimidated.

Victor called Jack’s social media video a “weak attempt at damage control.” Jack told his mother that he and his family were still standing, and despite what Victor thought, they had the upper hand. Victor smugly replied, “How many millions have you already lost?” Jack refused to answer the question, and he and Billy took off from Society before they had a chance to eat.

Victor summoned Michael to Society and asked if Billy and Jack had something planned that Victor was unaware of. Victor wanted Michael to go behind the scenes at Jabot to uncover whatever plot they might be working on. Michael said he’d find out whatever he could, but Victor wasn’t so sure. He wanted to know what troubled Michael because it needed to stop.

Michael felt the same about Victor. He didn’t know where things stood between the two of them. Victor asked if Michael’s loyalty needed to be tested. He recalled that Michael had previously expressed how much he valued their relationship, so now it was time to prove it. Victor presented Michael with a Christmas gift, one that caught Michael off guard.

The gift was a Roman coin that stirred emotion in Michael. The coin was authentic, which shook Michael to his core. Victor recalled how Michael was there for him during the showdown with Ian Ward, because it reminded him of Michael's loyalty. Victor asked if he could trust Michael as he moved forward with his plans. Michael promised that he could be trusted, and there was no reason to doubt him.

Back at the Abbott Mansion, Billy panicked about the threat Victor posed to Jabot and their father’s legacy. Jack asserted that failing to save the company was not an option. Billy wanted him to lose everything that he ever cared about. Billy’s words struck fear in Jack’s heart. The way Billy spoke was not the words of a changed man, as he claimed. It was evident that Jack questioned Billy's personal growth.

Nikki called Jack to ask if he was free to meet, and he agreed to head over to the Abbott Mansion. Billy couldn’t believe how quickly Nikki contacted them, and they both hoped her visit would be good news. Every option thus far had failed them in some way.

Nikki arrived rather quickly, and she indicated that she couldn’t stay long. She thought long and hard about how to get the AI program from Victor. She had an update about the situation, and Jack braced for disappointment.

Jack knew what was at stake for Nikki. Victor was her husband, and she loved him deeply. However, spending Christmas with Victor, Nikki concluded that she couldn’t go up against him. She refused to sit by and watch him destroy Jabot, but she wasn’t going to hand the program over. There was nothing she could do to stop him, so Jack was running out of options.

Audra encountered Holden and Claire at Crimson Lights, and the two women had another heated exchange. Holden begged Audra to let things go before it became a situation that everyone would regret. He told her that he planned to tell Audra everything that went down in Los Angeles, and she recognized that he had more to lose than she did. There's no chance of this ending well for anyone involved.

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