Young and the Restless Spoilers: Cole Howard Dies in Victoria’s Arms After Emotional Goodbye to Claire

YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS SPOILERS: COLE’S FINAL KISS WITH VICTORIA ENDS IN TRAGEDY AS HE TAKES LAST BREATH

Just when this family finally found each other, Y&R rips them apart forever!

I’m still trying to process what just happened in Genoa City. Cole Howard just delivered one of the most heartbreaking death scenes in soap history, and I’m not okay. Not even a little bit. If you haven’t grabbed your tissues yet, do it now because what I’m about to tell you will destroy you.

Cole knew his time was up. His heart was failing, and instead of denying it or fighting the inevitable, he chose to spend his final moments with the two people who mattered most — Victoria Newman and their daughter Claire Grace.

“This Isn’t Fair” — Claire’s Heartbreak Will Shatter You

The moment Claire took her father’s hand and heard him say he was close to his last breaths? Pure devastation. This girl JUST found her real dad after being stolen at birth and raised by that psycho Jordan. She’s had, what, a few months to actually know him? And now he’s being ripped away from her forever.

Claire crying that it wasn’t fair hit differently. Because it’s NOT fair! There’s so much they missed out on — birthdays, holidays, bedtime stories, teaching her to ride a bike. All those normal father-daughter moments that most people take for granted. Gone. Forever.

The part that absolutely wrecked me? When Claire told Cole about being seven years old and throwing herself a party while Jordan was out. She wished for a daddy to hold her. SEVEN YEARS OLD and making birthday wishes for a father! And now, just when that wish finally came true, she has to let him go.

Cole telling her how fearless she is and how proud he is to be her dad… I can’t. I literally can’t. The man is dying and all he cares about is making sure his daughter knows she’s loved.

Victoria and Cole’s Last Kiss — The Definition of Tragic Romance

Let’s talk about Victoria and Cole‘s final moments because WOW. These two have been through everything — marriages, divorces, their baby being stolen, finding each other again after decades. They got their second chance when most people don’t even get love like theirs once.

Victoria didn’t want words. She didn’t want speeches or goodbyes or promises about the afterlife. She just wanted one last kiss.

One. Last. Kiss.

And that’s when it happened. As their lips met, Cole took his final breath. He literally died kissing the love of his life. If that’s not the most tragically romantic thing ever, I don’t know what is. J. Eddie Peck deserves ALL the Emmys for this performance because he made us feel every single second of Cole‘s love for Victoria.

“We got the happy part. We both know there is no such thing as ever after.”

Those words! He knew. He KNEW that in Salem — sorry, Genoa City — happily ever after doesn’t exist. But at least they got the happy part. At least they had their moment.

Mother and Daughter United in Grief

The aftermath at the tack house? This is where Y&R really twisted the knife. Victoria and Claire trying to process their loss together was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once.

They’re sharing memories of Cole — his habit of leaving pencils in books (so specific and perfect), his famous sloppy joes. These little details that make a person who they are. The things you don’t realize you’ll miss until they’re gone.

Victoria wrapping Cole‘s jacket around Claire so she could smell his aftershave… excuse me while I sob into my keyboard. That’s such a real, visceral moment of grief. Wanting to hold onto someone’s scent because it’s all you have left.

And Claire sneaking downstairs to call Kyle Abbott? Leaving him a message about losing her dad? This is going to change EVERYTHING for their relationship. Kyle‘s going to drop whatever he’s doing to be there for her. Mark my words.

Victoria’s Private Breakdown

Can we please talk about Victoria crying into that dish towel in the kitchen? Because THAT moment right there is what grief really looks like. Not the pretty tears we usually see on soaps. This was raw, ugly crying when you think no one’s watching.

And then finding the last book Cole was reading and taking it to bed with her?

I. AM. DONE.

That’s exactly what someone would do after losing the love of their life. You cling to anything they touched, anything that still has a piece of them. Victoria is going to sleep holding that book like it’s Cole himself.

What Happens Next for the Newman Women?

Here’s what’s killing me — this death better mean something. If Victoria and Claire don’t become closer after sharing this grief, I’m rioting. They NEED each other now more than ever.

Claire just lost the father she waited her whole life for. Victoria just lost her second chance at true love. They’re both shattered, but maybe — just maybe — they can help put each other back together.

Will Victor Newman use this tragedy to manipulate the situation? (It’s Victor, so probably.) Will Victoria throw herself into work at Newman Publishing? Will Claire spiral without her dad there to ground her?

And what about Kyle? That voicemail from Claire is going to change everything. Nothing bonds people like shared grief, and Kyle knows what it’s like to have a complicated relationship with your father. He could be exactly what Claire needs right now.

The Controversy No One Wants to Talk About

Look, I get that death creates drama. But bringing Cole back after 24 YEARS just to kill him off? That’s cold, even for Y&R. Fans have every right to be furious. We waited decades for this reunion, and this is what we get?

Some are hoping this is temporary (it’s a soap, people come back from the dead all the time). But honestly? After that perfect death scene — dying while kissing Victoria, the emotional goodbyes, the raw grief that followed — bringing him back would cheapen everything.

Sometimes dead needs to mean dead. And as much as it hurts, Cole Howard‘s death was beautifully done. Tragic, heartbreaking, and perfect in the most devastating way.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go hug my family and maybe cry some more. Because this episode reminded us all that second chances are rare, and even when we get them, there’s no such thing as forever.

Rest in peace, Cole. You finally got to be the father Claire deserved, even if it was just for a moment.

Don’t miss our latest The Young and the Restless spoilers for more twists and turns.