Diane Jenkins Is About to Walk in on Jack Abbott Hugging Nikki Newman on The Young and the Restless and We Already Know How This Goes

NIKKI NEWMAN TOLD JACK ABBOTT SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT VICTOR AND HE HUGGED HER AND DIANE JENKINS WALKED IN

TL;DR: Nikki Newman confided in Jack Abbott about her fears over Victor’s behavior on The Young and the Restless — and when Jack hugged her to comfort her, Diane Jenkins walked in on them. Given that Jack and Diane have been arguing about their respective friendships and whose judgment is more clouded, this moment could not have come at a worse time.

Nikki Went to Jack Instead of Her Husband

Nikki Newman is scared. Victor has set his plan to destroy Cane Ashby into motion without telling anyone the details. He has threatened Lily Winters and her children. He is operating completely unchecked, refusing to explain himself to his own family.

And instead of confronting Victor directly, Nikki went to Jack Abbott.

According to The Young and the Restless spoilers, Nikki tells Jack she is worried about what Victor will do next. “What if he goes so far that I can’t take it anymore?” she asks. Jack responds the way Jack always responds when Nikki is upset — he hugs her.

And that is exactly when Diane walks in.

What do you think happens next? Does Diane Jenkins confront Jack on Young and the Restless? Does she go after Nikki? Does this marriage survive? Write to amber@soapoperamagazine.com with your predictions! You may even see your theory on our site next!

Jack and Diane Have Been Fighting About This Exact Issue

Here is why this moment is so explosive. Jack and Diane have been arguing about their respective friendships and whether those friendships cloud their judgment.

It started when Jack called out Diane Jenkins for being wrong about her friend Michael Baldwin. Diane fired back, asking if Jack was wrong about Nikki the same way. Jack insisted they were two totally different situations.

But Diane Jenkins made her position clear: she does not let her affection for Michael cloud her judgment. She does not object to Jack and Nikki’s close friendship because she trusts her husband. But she fails to see why Jack still gives Nikki the benefit of the doubt when Nikki’s loyalty to Victor has burned them all before.

And now Diane has walked in on her husband holding Nikki in his arms while Nikki confides her marriage problems.

The optics could not be worse.

Nikki Comes Clean With Jack

According to spoilers, Nikki “comes clean with Jack” later this week. This suggests she has been keeping something from him — possibly details about Victor’s plan, possibly her own feelings about the situation, possibly something else entirely.

But here is the question that should concern Diane: why is Nikki confiding in Jack at all?

Nikki is married to Victor. If she has concerns about his behavior, she should be confronting him directly. If she has information about his plan, she should be sharing it with her family. Instead, she is running to Jack Abbott — her ex-husband, her longtime confidant, the man Victor has always viewed as a threat.

Diane Jenkins has been questioning this dynamic for weeks. Now she has proof that her instincts were right.

Victor Would Love This

Let us not forget that Victor Newman would be delighted if Diane and Jack’s marriage fell apart over his wife. Victor has never liked Jack. Victor has always believed Nikki belongs with him and only him. Victor would consider any tension between Jack and Diane a victory.

Nikki went to Jack because she was worried about Victor’s behavior. But in doing so, she may have created exactly the kind of chaos Victor thrives on.

If Diane confronts Jack about what she saw, and Jack defends his friendship with Nikki the way he always does, this marriage could be in real trouble.

Who Is Really in the Wrong Here?

This is where it gets complicated. Jack was not doing anything inappropriate. He was comforting a friend who is genuinely frightened about her husband’s behavior. The hug was innocent.

But Diane’s concerns are not invalid either. She has been saying for weeks that Jack gives Nikki the benefit of the doubt in ways he does not extend to others. She has been watching her husband prioritize his ex-wife’s feelings. She has been patient, but patience has limits.

And Nikki? Nikki could have talked to Victoria. She could have talked to Nick. She could have confronted Victor herself. Instead, she ran straight to Jack Abbott and poured out her fears while he held her.

Everyone has a point. Everyone has made mistakes. And now everyone is about to pay for it.

Whose side are you on — Jack, Diane, or Nikki? Sound off in the comments!

WATCH THIS: Get the tea on all the upcoming drama…

@soapoperamag Next week on Y&R… is pure chaos. Alliances are shifting, someone's getting caught, and Victor Newman is doing what Victor Newman does best. Oh, and it's Valentine's Day. Good luck to everyone involved. #YR ♬ original sound – Soap Opera Magazine