Diane and Jack arrive at the Abbott mansion, still complaining about the hedge maze and Victor hiring Audra to seduce Kyle.

Jack scoffs at the idea that Victor will back off and warns that Audra is bound to lose everything over this. Diane, knowing of what she speaks, says a woman with nothing left to lose is dangerous.

Billy appears as Jack and Diane discuss “plots and schemes.” Diane skedaddles so he and Jack can talk. Billy informs Jack that it’s time they end their business relationship. Jack raises an eyebrow as Billy says Cane is considering buying out his interests. Momentarily forgetting his brother’s penchant for risk-taking, Jack says he can’t imagine why Billy would place his future in Cane’s hands.

Jack goes over Cane’s deception and lies for the umpteenth time, but Billy doesn’t care to hear it. Single-minded as always, Billy simply wants to know if Jack will sell his interest in Abbott Communications. When Jack hints that he will, Billy accuses him of thinking he’s stepped over to the dark side. Jack knows Billy is going after Chancellor and Victor. If he’s successful, Sally will be running Abbott Communications. Jack was making an investment in Billy, not Sally, so he’ll call Cane to cut a deal.

Billy informs Jack that they need to separate family and business. Singing the same old tune, he complains that Jack doesn’t trust him. They agree they see the world differently. Jack questions whether Cane will let Billy call the shots. Is it possible that Billy’s not seeing the bigger picture, that this is just another piece of the puzzle that Cane’s putting together? Responding as only a gambler would, Billy says Cane is a wildcard, but he’s willing to take the chance.

Can Diane Best Phyllis?

Diane walks into Crimson Lights and sees none other than her arch-rival, Phyllis. The redhead makes it clear that despite going easy on her amid the tension in Nice, they can now go back to the way they were. Rising to the occasion, Diane remarks on Phyllis leeching onto Cane and wonders if he’s since come to see her for the parasite she is. Phyllis purrs that Cane can’t get enough of her.

Diane and Phyllis continue to trade barbs. Diane accuses Phyllis of blowing smoke about Cane. Phyllis likes to keep the competition guessing. Diane scoffs, “Please,” and points out Phyllis stepped over two dead bodies to make a deal. Phyllis tries to shame Diane by saying she saw Damian die and that Chance was a good man who dated her daughter. To insinuate that she’s unmoved by their deaths is insulting.

This launches a debate on whether or not Cane is to blame for the homicides. Without a hint of self-awareness, Diane gripes about Cane deceiving everyone for the past six years. Phyllis gawps, “Diane, seriously?! How many years did you deceive your family and friends, pretending to be dead?” Diane takes this on board but hits back that Phyllis faked her death as well. Jack’s wife sniffs that Phyllis and Cane are cut from the same cloth… it’s no surprise they’re “getting into bed” together.

In the park, Tessa is trying to figure out what Aria wants to do when who else but Daniel shows up to, undoubtedly, save the day. Tessa introduces him to the child as her friend, and he pulls a packet of gummies out of his bag. This does the trick. Daniel notices they’re both out of sorts, and Tessa admits she’s practically a single mom since Mariah left. The visits are hard. Does he have anything in his bag to make her smile? Unsurprisingly, he thinks he does.

As they sit on a picnic blanket together, Daniel tries to get Tessa to see animal shapes in the clouds. Once she’s sufficiently distracted from her problems, Daniel ruminates on keeping your kids smiling even when it’s the last thing you want to do. Tessa confesses she’s been crying herself to sleep, so Daniel gives her some more uplifting advice. Finally, in a move that will surprise no one who sees where this is headed, Tessa places her hand on Daniel’s arm and tells him he’s kind and gentle and makes others feel safe.

Talk turns to napping and Daniel’s upcoming guitar lesson. He tells her he has a surprise for her. Tessa replies that she needs this lesson more than he does. As is wont to happen on soaps, he blurts, “It’s a date,” and then awkwardly backtracks. Tessa asks him to come with her and Aria somewhere first.

At Crimson Lights, Diane warns Phyllis about becoming Cane’s next casualty as Daniel arrives with Tessa and Aria. Diane rants that she’ll leave Phyllis to give her positive spin on the murders in Nice as she walks out to the patio. Daniel raises an eyebrow, and Tessa decides she should leave them to catch up. Phyllis asks to go somewhere else so they can’t be “spied on” and glares at Diane as they exit.

Once alone, Tessa gets flustered after a call about a staffing issue at work and drops something on the floor. Diane steps in to help and they end up having a heart-to-heart. Diane pulls out a pack of crayons that she carries for Harrison, and Tessa remarks on the guardian angels she’s had today. Diane assures her she’s doing the best she can for Aria and that’s enough.

Should Phyllis Be Spilling Cane’s Secret?

At Society, Daniel’s vaguely disappointed to hear that international man of mystery Aristotle Dumas is Cane Ashby. Phyllis enthuses that he’s moving back to Genoa City and bringing his empire with him. Leaning forward, Red swears her son to secrecy before whispering conspiratorially about Cane’s plot to acquire all the major companies in town. Daniel’s skeptical, given his mom is short on details. Phyllis mutters about NDAs and such. Daniel’s scared to ask why she’s the one keeping Cane’s secrets. His mother intones, “I’m the one that’s going to help him do it.”

In a moment of total déjà vu, Phyllis tries to tell Daniel that he could write his own ticket if he came to work for her and Cane. Daniel expresses doubt, though he’s glad his mother has found someone to match her ambitions. That enthusiasm goes by the wayside, however, when he learns that none other than Billy is also involved in the plan.

Phyllis assures Daniel that Cane is just using Billy. For what, she can’t say. But Cane respects her and what she brings to the table. “He likes the way I think.” Scarfing down a croissant, Daniel warns his mother to use caution. Billy appears and declares it may be time to throw caution to the wind.

On Crimson Lights’ patio, Jack updates Diane that Billy seems to want him to stick him around, though he doesn’t know why, but his brother is determined to throw in with Cane. Diane tells him Phyllis is putting all her trust in Cane as well. Jack sees red flags all around. Diane reminds Jack he told her earlier that he might be willing to thrown in with Cane. Jack admits he’d do a deal with the devil if it meant sticking it to Victor Newman.

Jack worries that if Cane buys him out, Billy will be in a very vulnerable position. He can’t help but wonder what Jill would make of all this (we’d like to know too!). Jack warns Diane that if Billy aligns himself with Cane there may be no turning back for the brothers professionally.

Inside, Tessa uses Diane’s crayons to draw a picture of Mariah, separate from a drawing of her and Aria. She tells the child that Mariah loves them and they can’t forget that. She explains that even mommies’ hearts get boo-boos and they lose patience, but they still love you.

Still at Society, Billy and Phyllis snark at each other as Daniel looks back and forth between them as though watching a ping-pong match. Daniel finally intervenes to remark on Dumas being Cane Ashby. They speculate on whether Victor knew, or whether he was pretending so as to appear the smartest man in the room. Stating the obvious, Daniel shrugs, “He usually is.” Phyllis declares that the power dynamic in Genoa City is about to change. Billy grins, “It definitely is.”