SHARON AND PHYLLIS FINALLY FACE THE NICK-SHAPED ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

The Truth Emerges During Captivity As These Longtime Rivals Are Forced To Confront Their Past

Let me tell you something that Y&R fans have known for DECADES but Sharon Newman and Phyllis Summers have stubbornly refused to admit: Nick Newman is the epicenter of their never-ending war. Well, sometimes it takes being kidnapped and held hostage in a medical clinic basement to finally face the truth!

WAKING UP IN EACH OTHER’S ARMS (THE HORROR!)

Picture this: Genoa City’s most notorious enemies waking up CUDDLING on a chesterfield after an apparent drugging by their mysterious captor. You couldn’t script a more awkward moment! Sharon was positively mortified to discover Phyllis using her “bony shoulder” as a pillow. The look of disgust on their faces when they realized they’d been snuggling all night was absolutely priceless—and a stark reminder of just how deep their hatred runs.

The women quickly discovered their phones weren’t working properly and a mysterious voice through an intercom system was controlling their environment. When Phyllis complained about needing coffee to think clearly, the coffee maker magically turned on—proving their kidnapper has thought of everything. Creepy much?

“Why are you suddenly being so civilized to me?” Sharon asked when Phyllis handed her coffee and offered sugar. It’s a fair question considering these two have been at each other’s throats since the Clinton administration! Phyllis suggested they needed to work together to escape, and Sharon reluctantly agreed. But we all know how long their truces typically last…

THE CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN INCIDENT RISES AGAIN

Their momentary cooperation crumbled faster than a sandcastle at high tide when their phones buzzed with a new riddle from their captor—one referencing the infamous chocolate fountain incident! For those who might have forgotten (how could you?), this was the glorious moment when Sharon pushed Phyllis into a cascading chocolate fountain at a charity event. Pure soap opera gold!

This trip down memory lane quickly devolved into the women rehashing old grievances. Phyllis recalled Sharon being a “lousy mother” for choosing Adam over her children, while Sharon accused Phyllis of not caring about the truth. Phyllis claimed she’s been a “saint” compared to Sharon—which might be the most laughable statement uttered in Genoa City this year.

They did share a brief moment of levity recalling how they both smelled like chocolate for a week after the fountain incident, with Phyllis joking she should have pulled Sharon into the coffee. Is this what the kidnapper wants? For these two to actually… get along? Perish the thought!

THE NICK NEWMAN REVELATION

And then it happened—the moment decades in the making. As they wondered why they were being forced to relive their bitter history, Phyllis asked if they were there to move past why they hate each other so much. Without hesitation, Sharon declared that Nick is the root of it all, and Phyllis nodded in agreement.

Just like that! After years of fighting over businesses, children, and status in Genoa City, they finally acknowledged the obvious: their mutual connection to Nick Newman is what transformed them from potential friends into sworn enemies. The man has been ping-ponging between these women since the ’90s, creating a triangle that has defined much of Y&R’s emotional landscape for generations of viewers.

OLD HABITS DIE HARD

But don’t expect a kumbaya moment anytime soon. Almost immediately after this breakthrough, they reverted to form with breathtaking speed. Phyllis called Sharon a “doormat”—a particularly stinging insult given Sharon’s history of fighting to be respected. Not to be outdone, Sharon reminded Phyllis that she’s “beaten her before” and “can do it again.”

Is there anything more quintessentially soap opera than two women trapped by a potential killer still finding time to trade barbs about their romantic history? I think not. Their kidnapper is clearly attempting to exploit this volatile relationship for some unknown endgame. But to what purpose?

CLUELESS IN GENOA CITY

Meanwhile, the man at the center of all this drama remains completely in the dark. Nick Newman and Daniel Romalotti discussed hearing from Sharon and Phyllis, but both men noticed something seemed off. Nick thought it was strange that Sharon didn’t want to call her kids herself, and Daniel mentioned that Phyllis only called Summer.

“Hopefully you’re just getting yourself wound up over nothing,” Daniel told Nick, but the Newman heir couldn’t shake the feeling that there were too many coincidences. He was up all night running “what-ifs” in his head. Still, they agreed not to worry anyone more than necessary. Oh, boys—if you only knew!

To complicate matters further, Billy Abbott showed up asking about Phyllis, concerned that she wasn’t returning his messages. After some awkward dodging, Daniel finally admitted his mother had supposedly left town on a “secret business deal.” Billy wasn’t buying it and stormed off, concerned that Phyllis was up to something. At least someone’s asking the right questions!

DEADLY STAKES REVEALED

The preview for next week raises the stakes dramatically. “I’m going to break the window and then I’m going to scream as loud as I can until someone hears me,” Phyllis explains to Sharon, clearly at her breaking point. But Sharon’s response chills to the bone: “Phyllis stop it! If you do that, you’re going to get us both killed.” She frantically tries to pull the chair out of Phyllis’s hands.

This confirms what we’ve suspected—their captivity isn’t just psychological torture. Their lives are genuinely in danger. The question remains: who would want to target both women and force them to confront their Nick-centered hatred? Is it someone from their shared past? A scorned lover? A forgotten enemy? Or perhaps someone new who’s been watching from the shadows, studying the intricate web of relationships in Genoa City?

Whatever the case, this psychological thriller is just getting started, and if Sharon and Phyllis can’t find a way to truly work together despite their complicated feelings for Nick, they might not make it out alive. Stay tuned, because this storyline is about to explode!