THE NIGHT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PERFECT

It began as a night of celebration in Genoa City — a glittering evening at the Athletic Club, where Danny Romalotti’s bachelor party was meant to honor one of the city’s most beloved icons. Abby Newman and Devon Winters were in high spirits hosting what should have been a classy, music-filled affair. But in classic Y&R style, elegance quickly dissolved into jealousy, chaos, and heartbreak.

Upstairs, Victoria Newman and Nate Hastings settled in for what they thought would be a quiet dinner, unaware that the night would twist into a storm of misunderstandings and emotional explosions.

Downstairs, the Jazz Lounge buzzed with chatter as Diane Jenkins, Traci Abbott, and Lauren Fenmore arrived — but something felt off. The club, supposedly closed for a private event, was unusually dark and tense. Then the man of the hour appeared — Danny Romalotti, flashing that signature rock-star grin. For a fleeting moment, it felt like old times… until the shadows started creeping in.

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 PHYLLIS SUMMERS RETURNS — AND ALL LIGHTS GO OUT

When Phyllis Summers entered the room, it was like a cinematic storm. The doors creaked, a cool gust swept through, and every eye turned her way.
Her intentions? Innocent enough.
Her effect? Devastating.

Phyllis froze when she saw Danny laughing with Victoria — a sight that cracked something deep inside her. The look on her face said it all: she wasn’t ready to see him move on.

Then, without warning — the lights went out.
Gasps. Confusion. Panic.
Emergency lighting flickered on, casting long shadows across worried faces.

And instantly, all suspicion fell on the same woman it always does: Phyllis.

“What did she do this time?” someone whispered.
“It’s always her…” murmured another.

Phyllis’s protests only made things worse. The whispers spread faster than the blackout itself, and by the time power returned, her reputation had once again been scorched.

Dany tried to calm things down, but the damage was done. The celebration had turned cold — the smiles too forced, the laughter brittle. Phyllis, humiliated and heartbroken, slipped quietly out into the night, leaving behind a room full of strained alliances and uneasy guilt.

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 TWO PARTIES, ONE EXPLOSION

But the night wasn’t over. Upstairs, Danny explained the confusion — he’d rented out the club for both his bachelor party and Christine “Cricket” Blair’s bachelorette party. A scheduling mix-up, he claimed.
Fate, others whispered.

Victoria and Nate were pulled into the crowd. Devon arrived, visibly upset after a fight with Abby, and tensions simmered as laughter faltered. Meanwhile, Michael Baldwin caught sight of Phyllis’s familiar red hair and knew instantly — trouble had followed her downstairs.

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 DOWNSTAIRS — THE SHOWDOWN OF THE YEAR

The bachelorette party was in full swing when Phyllis appeared at the top of the stairs, her silhouette framed by candlelight.
The chatter died.
The music faded.
And Christine’s smile froze mid-laugh.

“What are you doing here?” Christine demanded.

Phyllis descended like a woman walking into battle.

“Is this a private event,” she asked coldly, “or can anyone join the fun?”

Before Christine could answer, Lauren Fenmore rushed over, trying to defuse the ticking bomb. But Phyllis wasn’t listening. The bitterness poured out like venom.

“She stole Danny from me,” Phyllis snapped. “She flaunts her happiness like it’s a prize. She gets everything — always has!”

Lauren tried to reason with her, but Cricket stepped in — steel in her voice, eyes blazing.

“You never change, Phyllis,” she said. “You can’t stand that I’ve built something real. You hate that no matter what you do, you’ll never have what I have.”

The words hit like a slap. And when Christine invoked Jeremy Stark, Phyllis snapped.
Fury overtook reason — she lunged.

Lauren grabbed her just in time, holding her back as gasps rippled through the crowd.

“Enough!” Lauren hissed.

The room fell silent. Guests stared, stunned.
Christine stood her ground.
Phyllis trembled — her anger masking heartbreak.

“Maybe I’ll never change,” she whispered. “But neither will you.”

Lauren led her toward the exit, firm but compassionate.
Phyllis hesitated — eyes flicking to Danny’s name on the event banner, tears she refused to shed glinting in the dim light.
Then she turned and walked out, her heels echoing like the closing notes of a tragedy that’s been years in the making.

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 THE AFTERMATH — SMOKE AND SECRETS

Upstairs, Jack, Michael, Devon, and Nate tried to salvage the evening with drinks and forced laughter.

“Shame Daniel couldn’t make it,” Jack mused.
“He’ll be at the wedding,” Danny replied softly — his eyes distant, his thoughts elsewhere.

But even as they toasted, everyone could feel it: the shift in the air, the invisible thread of tension still crackling from below.

The blackout was over, but Genoa City’s social lights had dimmed.
And once again, Phyllis Summers had become the spark — the match that might set Genoa City ablaze all over again.

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 COMING NEXT ON THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

• Christine faces fallout from the GCAC confrontation — and wonders if Phyllis has truly gone too far this time.

• Danny struggles with guilt over Phyllis’s pain — just as Victoria starts to see him in a new light.

• Abby and Devon’s relationship hits a breaking point after the night’s chaos.

• Jack begins to suspect that the “blackout” may not have been an accident after all…