The tension in Genoa City reaches its boiling point as Jack Abbott makes a shocking decision that will forever alter the Abbott family dynamic. For years, Jack had tolerated Billy’s erratic behavior, trying to rationalize his brother’s actions as the fallout of addiction, betrayal, and personal failure. Time after time, Jack extended his hand, offering Billy chances to redeem himself, hoping responsibility would ground him. But despite the numerous opportunities, Billy’s behavior only worsened. His reckless actions, impulsive decisions, and disregard for family stability became impossible to ignore.

The final straw came when Jack entrusted Billy with leadership over a new division within Jabot, hoping the responsibility would help Billy finally grow up. Instead, Billy treated the opportunity with contempt, missing meetings and courting scandal for attention. When Jack asked him to slow down and lead with integrity, Billy exploded, accusing Jack of manipulating him and setting him up to fail. But Jack, no longer willing to make excuses, delivered the devastating blow Billy had never expected: “Maybe it’s time I stop helping you.”

In that moment, Jack saw something in Billy that he had never seen before—a threat. An unstable man determined to destroy everything around him simply because it wasn’t on his terms. Jack realized that no amount of money, power, or legacy would ever satisfy Billy; he would always want more. And when the world didn’t bend to his will, he would punish everyone who refused to comply.

While the Abbott brothers’ relationship disintegrates, another storm is brewing—one that threatens to shake Genoa City to its core. Nick Newman, tired of being seen as a scapegoat, takes matters into his own hands. Officially helping Chance with the investigation into Damian’s stabbing, Nick quietly seizes control of the case, bypassing Chance entirely. Determined to redeem himself and prove his worth, Nick starts bypassing protocols, re-examining security footage, and questioning witnesses.

But his actions raise concerns, particularly for Sharon, who sees the signs of Nick’s obsession taking hold. Sharon, who has known Nick through his highs and lows, tries to intervene, urging him to step back and allow Chance to lead. But Nick dismisses her concerns, convinced that his involvement is the only way to uncover the truth. What he fails to realize is that, in his desperate pursuit of redemption, Nick is becoming the very thing he feared being accused of—unstable, controlling, and volatile. Sharon fears that his obsession will tear apart more than just the investigation—it will destroy the relationships he’s desperately trying to rebuild.

As the investigation stalls, Damian’s memory remains fragmented, and the pressure on Chance mounts. Meanwhile, a hidden danger is looming. An anonymous package arrives for Lily containing a video from a burner phone—Carter, disguised as JT, standing in the Jabot server room weeks before the gala, whispering, “Every empire has a fault line. I’m just the quake.” The realization hits hard: JT, once presumed dead, has embedded himself deeper in the lives of the Newmans and Abbotts than anyone realized. And now, with the Abbott family fractured, Nick spiraling, and the investigation stalled, JT’s master plan is coming to fruition.

But there’s another layer to the chaos. In France, Kyle Abbott finds himself tangled in a dangerous game of desire and manipulation with Audra Charles. Their connection grows stronger, but so does the feeling that Audra is more than just a woman he’s drawn to—she’s playing her own game, and he may be just another pawn. As Kyle falls deeper into her web, Phyllis realizes that Cain Ashby, the man she’s been tracking as the elusive power broker “Dumas,” may be far more dangerous than she ever imagined. In a shocking twist, Phyllis discovers that Cain has been hiding in plain sight, using his new identity to manipulate and control the power players of Genoa City.

But Phyllis isn’t the only one trying to uncover the truth. As the investigation stalls and the Abbott family is thrust into chaos, everyone is left questioning who can be trusted. Is JT pulling the strings from the shadows, or is there another puppet master controlling the strings? As tensions rise, the Newmans, Abbotts, and their allies must navigate the intricate web of lies, betrayals, and power plays that threaten to tear them apart.