The Young and the Restless Recap, June 16, 2025: Dumas lurks as his guests ponder his identity

On the Monday, June 16th episode of The Young and the Restless, Dumas’ guests board a luxury train, Adam defies Victor’s orders, and Nate suggests Holden leave town.

What happened on The Young and the Restless

At the Athletic Club bar, Nate sent a text message to Audra to request that she let him know when she landed. Holden hesitated before joining him, and the men politely greeted one another. Nate suggested that Holden take any complaints about Damian elsewhere. Holden swore he had no problems with Nate, but Damian was a snake. Holden asserted that Damian hadn’t just given him the short end of the stick but had taken the “whole damn thing” away.

Nate argued that Dumas had shafted both Damian and Holden. Holden huffed that Damian had gotten a soft landing on the family farm, and Nate countered that Holden had turned down the Winters’ job offer. Holden contended that he didn’t want a handout, and he knew from overhearing Damian and Lily talking that the offer had been all about Damian’s guilty conscience. Holden thought he could do better, and Nate wished him luck in conquering the world. Holden declared that he’d always been a survivor.

Holden contended that from then on, it was all about what was good for him and his future. Nate mentioned that Audra had told him Holden was a smart guy, and he imagined the firing could end up being the best thing that ever happened to Holden. Holden was interested in hearing what else Audra had to say about him. Holden assumed she’d told Nate a few things about her adventures with Holden in L.A., but he also knew it was like Audra to hold back.

Nate said Audra had told him everything she thought he needed to know, and that was good enough for him. Nate questioned why Holden kept bringing up his history with Audra. Holden swore he hadn’t been trying to insinuate anything, but he’d wanted to explain why he and Audra had a bond. Nate stressed that he didn’t care, and he recommended that Holden go to someone who was paid to listen if he felt the need to unburden himself. Holden apologized for hitting a nerve. Nate countered that Holden was just annoying, and he advised Holden to go back to L.A.

Holden chuckled and remarked that some people might interpret Nate telling him to get out of town as being bothered by Holden’s connection to Audra. Nate inquired whether Holden had any job prospects in Genoa City other than the one he’d turned down. Holden indicated that he hadn’t started looking yet, but he liked it there. Nate wondered what was keeping Holden in town when the universe seemed to be sending him on a new path elsewhere.

Holden accepted that the argument made sense because most of his business contacts and friends were in L.A., but he preferred to stick around Genoa City for a while. Nate received a text message from Audra, confirming that she’d landed. Holden assumed Audra had arrived in Paris, and he explained that she’d told him about the trip over drinks. Nate questioned whether Audra had really told Holden about her plans or if he’d been eavesdropping again. Nate ordered Holden to stay out of their lives if he stuck around town.

At Society, Chelsea rambled to Adam about a marketing meeting, but he clearly wasn’t listening. He warned that there was a ticking time bomb until Victor realized they’d missed the deadline to put out hit pieces on Billy. Chelsea doubted Victor was paying attention because he was focused on meeting Dumas for the first time. Adam clucked that Victor never forgot anything, and his father wouldn’t be satisfied until Billy was buried in the press.

Adam lamented that he was out of ideas about how to divert Victor’s attention unless a new juicy scandal fell into their laps. He contemplated whether his father had been bluffing about knowing Dumas’ real identity. Adam imagined it would be worth going to France to see a championship fight between two evenly matched opponents. Chelsea asked if Victor would ever admit anyone was a match for him. “Absolutely not,” Adam confirmed.

Adam anticipated that Dumas might regret stepping out of the shadows once he locked horns with Victor, since Adam’s money was always on his dad. Chelsea wished she and Adam could spend a few days forgetting about Victor and Billy and focusing on running their company the way they wanted to run it. Adam reminded her that it was still Victor’s playground, so Victor called the shots. Chelsea pondered a way to explain the missed deadline, but Adam thought they were just delaying the “inevitable hell” when Victor got back.

Chelsea hated that their job was to ruin Billy’s life based solely on vengeance. Adam believed that Jack was the real target, and whatever Victor was doing was about using Dumas as an ally against the Abbotts. Adam argued that they could destroy Billy’s credibility just by stating facts about his track record – especially as it related to Chancellor, which Victor wanted to protect at all costs. Adam was sure Victor would soon notice if the stories didn’t hit social media.

Chelsea hated that Victor had put Adam in that position, but Adam chalked it up to part of being a real Newman. Chelsea implored Adam to think about how going after Billy would affect Connor, who would know they were behind the hit pieces. Adam announced that he’d decided not to publish any articles, and he’d just deal with the fallout. Chelsea marveled that she couldn’t tell him what it meant to her. Adam admitted it felt good to him, too.

A shocked Chelsea revealed that she’d ultimately expected Adam to do what Victor wanted, despite her objections. Adam recognized that there had been a time he would have caved in and not given it a second thought, but he didn’t want to make those mistakes anymore when it involved her and Connor. Adam insisted that he wanted what they had to last, even if it meant dealing with Victor’s wrath. Chelsea exclaimed that she’d waited years to hear it, and she believed Adam. Adam vowed not to screw things up because he’d fallen back in love with her, and he would be a complete fool to jeopardize what they had.

Chelsea and Adam exited the restaurant, and she pulled him into a hug. She shared that she’d fallen back in love with him, too, and he mused that they’d finally figured it out that time. They exchanged words of love and kissed.

In the south of France, Victor, Nikki, Nick, and Sharon checked out the amenities on Aristotle Dumas’ train. Sharon gushed about the opulent sleeping cars, and Nikki and Nick admired the indulgent spread of Champagne and caviar. Sharon observed that Victor hadn’t said much, and Nick joked that his father was figuring out how to put a similar train on the ranch. Nikki surmised that Victor was getting a lay of the land to be ready for battle.

Sharon thanked Nikki for letting her tag along on the Newman jet, and Nikki pointed out that she hadn’t been able to turn Nick down. Sharon discovered an envelope with the word “welcome,” and she assumed it was meant for Victor. Victor opened it and read a message encouraging them to relax and enjoy the final leg of their journey before the main event. “The sum of all human wisdom is contained in the two words ‘wait’ and ‘hope,’” he continued.

Victor recognized the words from The Count of Monte Cristo. Nikki wondered whether it was safe to eat and drink, and Sharon panicked. Nikki apologized for the thoughtless joke after Sharon had recently been poisoned. Sharon groaned that she’d been so caught up in the elegance that she’d almost forgotten there was a mystery man out there whom they knew nothing about, and she opted to pass on the Champagne and caviar.

Nick assured Sharon that the food was fine, and he was there to make sure everyone was okay. Victor asked when the other guests were supposed to arrive, and he had a hunch Dumas had only invited families from Genoa City. Nick struggled to figure out how Dumas had made his money out of nowhere, and Nikki and Sharon presented theories about illegal activity and family money. Victor proclaimed that Dumas had made his ascent in ways they couldn’t imagine. Nikki asked if Victor knew Dumas’ real identity.

Billy and Sally walked into the train car, and the group exchanged tense pleasantries. Billy asked what Victor thought Dumas had planned for them. Victor barked that the only thing that would be revealed over the next few days was what an “incompetent ass” Billy was, adding that Billy was only there because Dumas was using him. Nick urged the men to keep cool, but Billy declared that he could handle whatever Victor threw at him.

Billy inquired about Cole, and Nikki reported that Victoria and Claire had accompanied Cole to Chicago to see a specialist. Victor mentioned that Victoria was also keeping an eye on Newman Enterprises, and he queried about who was minding Billy’s pitiful endeavor. Sally bragged that Abbott Communications would soon be the talk of the media industry. The train bells clanged, and Sally noted that not everyone was there. Sharon asked if Sally was disappointed Phyllis hadn’t made the train. “Are you?” Sally knowingly replied.

Nick guessed that Dumas’ strategy was to stagger the arrivals of his guests so they couldn’t compare notes. Billy joked that it would never be “all for one and one for all,” and Victor chided him for never taking anything seriously in life. Billy retorted that he took Victor seriously because he knew what Victor was about. Billy pointed out that Victor was the only one with something to lose, since Dumas was going after Chancellor. Victor countered that Billy had nothing to offer Dumas, who was merely amused by Billy’s presence. Sharon recalled that Victor had been about to tell them who Dumas really was.

Victor denied that he’d ever confirmed that he knew Dumas’ identity, and he quipped that it wasn’t one of Billy’s poker games. Billy agreed that the stakes were a lot higher. Victor confidently stated that wherever the journey took them, they would all meet Aristotle Dumas at the end of it. Nikki pressed to know whether Dumas’ identity would surprise or upset them. Victor shrugged and claimed he didn’t know. “It won’t be long now,” a man said as he watched them on surveillance video.

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