The Young and the Restless recap for August 4 featured Claire drawing a line in the sand with her grandfather, Victor’s ruthless schemes spilling into the family memorial, and Cane recruiting Billy and Phyllis for his ambitious plot to dominate every major company in town. As Chelsea and Lily connected over Cane’s betrayal, tensions simmered at the Newman Ranch, where Victor’s power plays left even his closest allies shaken.

Chelsea and Lily Revisit Cane’s Betrayal

At Crimson Lights, Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) found Lily (Christel Khalil) still reeling from the South of France debacle. She paid her respects but didn’t sugarcoat the truth—Cane (Billy Flynn) was back in town, and he had an agenda. Chelsea filled Lily in on her recent run-in with Cane, including the cryptic clue he left behind about knowing Dumas. Lily was stunned, realizing there had been a hidden path in and out of the chateau all along.

Lily’s fury bubbled over as she vented about Cane’s descent into madness. She blamed Colin’s influence and feared that Cane’s obsession with Dumas was part of a larger scheme. Chelsea suspected he was plotting something big in Genoa City, but they were both at a loss for how to prepare for a threat they couldn’t define.

The conversation shifted to Victor (Eric Braeden), and Lily complained about how he always found ways to pull the rug out from under people. Chelsea could relate, but noted that Adam was slowly stepping out of his father’s shadow. Lily wasn’t so sure anyone could escape Victor’s grasp.

The Newmans Brace for Fallout at the Memorial

At the tack house, Victoria (Amelia Heinle), Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), and Claire (Hayley Erin) prepared for Cole’s (J. Eddie Peck) memorial. The mood was somber, but the looming threat of Victor’s unpredictable behavior weighed heavily. Kyle (Michael Mealor) arrived with flowers from Nate, who couldn’t make it. Nikki worried Victor would be upset seeing Kyle there, but Claire refused to let Victor control who was welcome.

The family reminisced about how much Victor had despised Cole at first before eventually coming around. They hoped the same could happen with Kyle, though the odds weren’t promising. All they wanted was a peaceful day to honor Cole.

Victor Pushes Adam to Attack Billy

Over at the Newman Ranch, Victor wasted no time laying into Adam (Mark Grossman) for failing to publish hit pieces against Billy (Jason Thompson). Adam explained that dealing with the chaos in Nice took priority. Nick tried to defuse the situation, but Victor was laser-focused. He warned Adam that disobedience wouldn’t be tolerated again.

Victor revealed Cane’s latest move: making Billy a full partner. Nick wasn’t convinced Cane would really empower Billy, but Victor didn’t care. He wanted Billy crushed. As the Newmans gathered to leave, Chelsea reminded Adam of his promise not to go after Billy—a promise Adam was struggling to keep.

Claire Confronts Victor at the Memorial

After the memorial, which everyone agreed was beautifully done, Victor couldn’t help himself. During a toast to Cole, he took a passive-aggressive jab at Kyle, claiming Cole was one of the few outsiders truly welcomed into their family. Claire saw right through the veiled attack and called Victor out in front of everyone.

“Are you serious? Are you using my father’s memory against Kyle?” she demanded. The family urged her to let it go, but Claire had reached her limit. She told Victor she was done with his manipulations and walked out, leaving a stunned Victor in her wake.

Cane Pitches His Takeover Plan to Billy and Phyllis

At the GCAC, Cane received a surprise visit from Phyllis (Michelle Stafford), who brought him a welcome basket. Cane revealed he wouldn’t be staying long—his real home was a luxury train, and he had one on every continent. Phyllis was floored, but the real surprise came when Billy showed up, ready to talk business.

Cane unveiled his master plan: he wanted to take over Newman, Jabot, Chancellor—every major company in Genoa City. He needed a small, loyal team, and he wanted Billy and Phyllis on board. While Phyllis rattled off her qualifications, Billy was skeptical, especially when Cane hinted that Jabot was on his hit list.

Billy challenged Cane’s motives, wondering if this was just a revenge fantasy. Cane denied it but refused to elaborate, insisting his reasons were personal. He needed their loyalty, not their questions. Billy accused him of asking them to join a cyclone. Cane promised it was more than a storm—it was a calculated takeover. He even offered to fold Abbott Communications into the deal.

Phyllis was intrigued and didn’t hesitate to express interest. Billy wasn’t so sure but admitted Cane probably had a secret weapon. Cane told him to join the team and find out.