The Young and the Restless Recap for Thursday, December 12, 2024: Lily decides, Jack amends, and Victor meddles

Devon came over to Nate’s as Audra came downstairs. He wondered if he’d interrupted, noting that it looked like Nate was busy. Devon wondered if Audra had moved in. Audra teased that she had big plans for the place, and Nate joined in. Devon caught on that they were joking. “I don’t even have a drawer. I hope that helps,” Audra told him.

Audra left, but Devon didn’t think she was humorous. He asked Nate how serious they were. “You have a wife, a child, and a CEO position, but you want to talk to me about dating?” Nate wondered. Devon asked if they were dating or keeping it casual. Nate confirmed it was more than casual, but they weren’t picking out rings. Devon noted that Audra said at his wedding that she didn’t believe in marriage. “Then I guess the fact that I’m happy with her will have to be your answer,” Nate concluded. “Fair enough,” Devon replied. Nate and Devon talked about Lily and how she had been screwed over. Devon hoped it would lead her back to working at Winters.

Lily ran into Abby at Crimson Lights. After a brief catch-up, Abby revealed that Devon was worried about Lily. Lily insisted she was fine. Abby told Lily she was family now and agreed with Devon. “Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could be with people you trust the most? Your family,” Abby told her.

Lily said she had been busy and hadn’t thought about it. Abby shared that Devon wanted to be there for Lily in any way he could be. As Abby left, Nate came in. He welcomed Lily back from her trip to visit her kids. Audra came in, and Lily made a quick exit. Audra wondered if Nate’s family was going to despise her forever.

Audra thought she and Lily had resolved things but knew that Devon was hostile. “They can hate me forever,” Audra said, noting she was used to being on people’s bad side. But since they mattered to Nate and he mattered to her, she wanted to win Devon and Lily over. She wanted them to adore her for his sake and hers. “I want them to think I'm the best thing that ever happy to you,” Audra told him.

At the ranch house, Claire came over as requested but wasn’t sure why she was there. Victoria arrived right after, and she and Nikki walked her into the living room, where Claire was blown away. Nikki had had Lauren send clothes, shoes, and accessories, and they were all out on display for Claire to go through. Nikki said she was about to premiere at Chancellor and wanted her to make an impression. Victoria explained it was like Cinderella, except she was going to her office, not the ball.

Nikki told Claire that she was a Newman now in business, and she wanted her to look the part. Claire didn’t think she could look like Nikki and Victoria did. Nikki said that great style took time, and she had a lot of help, and now Claire did, too. Victor came in, and Nikki explained that they were refreshing Claire’s wardrobe for her new career. Claire wanted to live up to all of their expectations. Nikki asked Victor to excuse them so they could get back to what they were doing,g but Victor told Nikki and Victoria to be excused so he could have a word alone with Claire.

Victor wouldn’t say what it was about but wanted to talk to his granddaughter. Victoria and Nikki left them to talk. Once alone, Victor asked how Claire liked her new position. Victor advised Claire that she needed to focus when she was working with Nikki so she could learn from her. “No personal distractions,” Victor said. “This is about my relationship with Kyle,” Claire realized.

Victor hoped that Kyle wouldn’t distract Claire from his personal problems and advised that Jack and Diane’s reconciliation would be short-lived. Claire said it wasn’t a reconciliation if they never broke up. Claire assured Victor that she was career-focused but also assured him that there was a lot of love in Kyle’s family. “You scratch a little on the surface, and you’ll discover a lot of rot in that family,” Victor told her. Victor added that there would be no coming back for the Abbotts. “They don’t even know it,” he said.

Claire shared that she’s seen and heard firsthand that Jack and Diane are fine. Victor warned Claire that the time would come when she would have to choose her allegiance, either to the Abbots or to the Newmans.

Claire couldn’t think of a reason that she’d have to choose between Kyle and her family, noting that her parents liked him and that her grandmother was friends with Kyle’s father. “So the only thing I can think of is if you were to make a move against them,” Claire suggested. Victor shared that Jack hurt someone he cared about. Nikki and Victoria returned so Victor left. Claire told them what they talked about, but Nikki thought it was nonsense for Claire to have to choose. “Your feelings are yours and no one else’s,” she said. They took Claire upstairs so she could try things on.

Alone in the living room, Nikki and Victoria talked about how Victor wanted to talk to Claire alone. Nikki noted that Victor would never approve a relationship between a Newman and an Abbott but said that they had free will to follow their own hearts and minds. Victoria said that they had practice at that, and Claire did not. “I wonder if it was just a general warning or if Dad has some plan to interfere,” Victoria added. Nikki told her they couldn’t live in fear of what-ifs but thought that Claire could hold her own. Just then, Claire came down the stairs in one of her new outfits. Victoria and Nikki thought she looked great. “I can’t wait for you to take on the world,” Victoria told her proudly.

At Society, Kyle watched as Jack questioned Victor and his sudden ability to claim defeat. Victor told Jack to enjoy his win because they were few and far between. Kyle joined Jack after Victor awlked away. He asked what they had been talking about. “He claims the battle is over, and I beat him,” jack shared. “That doesn’t sound like him,” Kyle noted. Jack thought it was a classic Victor Newman move.

Jack said the layers of Victor’s mind games were endless. He liked to keep Jack guessing. Jack didn’t want to spend time talking about Victor. Kyle noted that if you weren’t related to Victor, he would screw you over. Jack apologized for the lesson Kyle learned but Kyle said it was all on him. “I’m an idiot,” Kyle said. He told his dad that he was sorry. Jack was stunned.

Jack told Kyle that regrets were a part of life, and he had a few of his own for the way he treated Kyle. Kyle told Jack that he didn’t need to apologize but Jack disagreed. Jack explained to Kyle that one day, he would do something that disappointed Harrison, and when it happened, he would have to apologize to his son.

“This is what it looks like: Kyle, I’m sorry. I did not see how much you were hurting. Your pride, your confidence, your sense of fairness,” Jack began. He told him that when he put Diane in charge at Jabot, he ignored how much it hurt him. Kyle owned his responsibility in that by admitting that although he suggested Diane get the position, he lied every time Jack and Diane ensured he was okay with it when he was not.

Jack tried to take full responsibility for everything, as he didn’t acknowledge Kyle’s pain b,ut Kyle wouldn’t let him. Kyle explained how he had put Diane on a pedestal when she pretended to be dead. When Diane came back, she couldn’t be that mom anymore because she had become the mom who had lied and abandoned him. When Jack and Diane reconciled, Kyle felt like they were on the other side of the line, and he was dealing with his hurt and anger alone. Kyle credited Claire for helping him see how much family meant to him. Kyle knew Jack wouldn’t understand what he was trying to say, but Jack interrupted him. He said Kyle had no idea how well he understood it.

Jack explained that he spent most of his young adulthood wondering if he’d ever measure up to his dad. Jack said that Kyle hadn’t done anything that he didn’t understand, and he even knew how it felt to be abandoned by his mother. Jack told Kyle that he had to build his own legacy that he could always look back on with pride. Kyle said to Jack that he didn’t know John Abbott, but he knew that he would be damn proud of Jack. Jack teared up and told Kyle that these talks matter. “This is what makes a family strong,” he said, choked up. Kyle said in the spirit of honesty he needed to ask something. He pointed out the “fake” fights that Jack and Diane had and wondered about the anger and the awful things said. “Do you completely trust her now?” Kyle asked.

“Of course, I trust your mother. Where is this coming from?” Jack wondered. Kyle explained that fights and the things said seemed real. Jack noted that Diane was painfully aware how some people look at her. He said Diane used her reputation to sell their performance. Jack assured Kyle that nothing people think or say about Diane makes him question her. Kyle told his dad that he needed to hear it from Jack, and he was fine with Diane.

Jack asked how things were going with Claire, and Kyle said she was amazing. Kyle hoped nothing would change with Claire going to work with Nikki. Jack thought that Claire was a lovely person but he was concerned because of Victor. Jack warned that Victor would never give up his war on the family and used the time that Victor had Victoria arrested when she was going to marry Billy. Kyle knew the lore but thought he could handle it. “But can Claire?” Jack wondered. He pointed out that she wasn’t jaded or cynical and that being caught in Victor's crosshairs might be out of her league. “Nothing will happen to Claire,” Kyle said. He said he wouldn’t let it because she meant too much to him. “Even more than she knows,” Kyle added, to Jack’s surprise.

Abby came home and told Devon that she ran into Lily. They talked about Lily coming back to Winters. Abby shared how she’d tried, but it was a decision that Lily needed to make on her own. Just then, Lily dropped by so Abby went to see Dom upstairs.

Lily took her time telling Devon that she had been busy but had been thinking about her life and career direction. “I want to come work with you at Winters and make it a true family company,” Lily revealed. Devon was happy and hugged her.

Watch full episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS or stream on Paramount Plus.