At the hospital, Noah and Sienna take turns blaming themselves for what’s happened. Sharon tells them that Matt would have found a way to torment the family regardless. She prays Victor can put an end to this once and for all.

Nick comes to. He’s dreamt he totalled his mom’s Ferrari. Sharon clarifies it was his own he crashed and tells him he broke his leg. Noah and Sienna step forward to say how sorry they are about all of this. Nick just wants answers. “Where’s Matt?”They assure Nick there’s a

 

 

manhunt on for Matt. Noah wishes he could get his hands on him. Sharon clucks about the danger. Nick doesn’t want Noah taking any chances. Noah wants to know what Nick’s plan was when he put Matt in the car.Nick dodges the question and dozes off. Sharon sends Noah and Sienna off to check in with Victor for news. They step out and Noah gets his grandfather’s voicemail. Sienna tells Noah she started this

by getting involved with him, and she should be the one to end it.Noah and Sienna bicker and debate until they end up canoodling. In Nick’s room, Sharon tells the unconscious Nick to stop playing hero and stop riling Noah up… they have to let Victor’s team handle this. Just then, Nick snaps awake and cries out. Sharon rushes to get the nurse as he clutches his leg in agony.At the ranch, Adam does the talking for

Victor, accusing Kyle and Jack of fabricating the claim that they have Matt Clark. Jack confirms he has him and he’s claiming to be Mitch Bacall. He was shocked to see him in his living room. “If you want him, he’s yours.” Adam asks how they pulled this off. Kyle leers, “We had your entire family followed.”

Jack intones that they’ll give them Matt Clark, and they must give them the AI program. If they refuse, they’ll set Clark loose. They argue about who’s family is more at risk. Jack asks Victor if they have a deal. The Mustache smirks, highly amused.

He doesn’t need the Abbotts’ help. If they let Matt go, he’ll find him. Jack can’t believe this. Matt put Noah and Nick in the hospital. Adam booms that it’s his father’s decision. Victor won’t accept this desperate attempt to bribe him. Nikki appears and hisses, “Victor stop it! Enough is enough!”

Victor tells Nikki he’ll handle this. Nikki reminds him that Nick just got out of surgery because of Matt and Noah nearly died! She pleads with him to give Jack the AI program so they can get rid of Matt Clark for good. Victor checks his watch.

As Jack suggests they destroy the software together, Nikki implores Victor to do the right thing… do it for her. Victor wants proof they have Matt Clark.At the Club, Cane asks Phyllis why she went to Victor with the AI in hopes he’d give her Jabot. She could have done it herself. She wanted Victor to do her dirty work. Cane says she can destroy him now. She’s surprised he doesn’t want revenge. Cane can’t understand why she hasn’t made a move… she could rule Genoa City by now.

Phyllis would like to align with him. She can get the program back, but he knows its inner workings. They need to do this together. “Will you do this with me or not?”

Cane was torn because of his family, but that’s not really a choice anymore. Phyllis learns Lily is going to see Mattie and the kids are cutting ties with him and asks what’s next. Cane says being Dumas made him a success… he needs to embrace the lessons he learned.

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When Cane declares Newman Enterprises doesn’t stand a chance, Phyllis recaps that she’ll hack into Newman to get the program, and he’ll show her how to use it. Cane says she doesn’t have to hack in… the program is rigged to take out its host if activated. “I can make that happen.”Phyllis asks why he didn’t use it on Victor before. Cane shrugs that taking Newman wouldn’t have impressed Lily or the kids. Phyllis marvels, “Oh my God… we’re going to take Victor down.”At Crimson Lights, Audra tells Holden she’s flirting with him because she feels like it. Moving closer, she muses that it’s pretty fun. They’ve always had chemistry. Smirking, Holden pretends not to recall. They replay the scene when they first met. He posed for her and she “saw” him. “I still do.” She wants to be friends with caution.

They’re giggling together when Claire appears. Her expression says she’s not only not impressed, but very nearly disgusted. Holden assures Claire they’re still on for dinner. Audra wishes the Newman a Happy New Year and heads for the door. Claire stops her. “What is going on with this civility? What is going on with the two of you?”

Audra insists nothing is going on. She owes her an apology and doesn’t want to fight anymore. “Live and let live, right?” Claire gawps, “What?” Audra sees no reason to continue being hostile. With that, she exits. Claire asks Holden, “What the hell was that?”

Holden claims he finally convinced Audra to back off. Claire’s skeptical. Holden asks her to trust him and give peace a chance. Claire asks what he said to her to turn things around. Claire wonders if he told her that he wouldn’t tell her the rest of the story about what happened in Los Angeles if she’d back down.

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Claire thinks whatever happened must be bad if she’s willing to be nice to her to cover it up. Holden works to get her to follow his lead and focus on their evening. With that, he kisses her.The Abbott goons hustle Matt Clark into the ranch, where he smart mouths Victor and needles him about Nick. “He crashed the car!” Nikki seethes, “You haven’t changed one bit!” Matt snarks about the poor hospitality he’s receiving from the elite families of Genoa City.Victor stands up and warns Matt that this time, he won’t get away. Jack reminds The Mustache that Clark is in his custody. “What happens next is up to you. What’s it gonna be? Do we have a deal or not?” Victor smirks it up.