I see I forgot to post Tuesdays update so here it is . BTW Lily is on her way back to Cane.


Tuesday, September 24, 2019

by Jenny Smith


At the Abbott mansion, Jack read an article about Victoria's arrest aloud, quoting Paul's characterization of the evidence as "damning and compelling." Traci was stunned, and Jack noted that Victoria had always been loyal to a fault, no matter what Victor had done to her. Traci lectured that there was a limit to what even good people could take, and she cited how Ashley had lashed out at Jack after years of feeling second best. Traci didn't want to believe that Victoria was capable of murder, but she figured that the police didn't arrest people for no good reason. Jack suspected that there had to be more to it.

Jack believed that Victor had done the right thing by putting Victoria in charge of Newman, and she'd had everything she'd ever wanted. Traci speculated that something had been going on that no one else but Victor and Victoria had known about. Jack reflected back on his last conversation with Victor at Society, which had been momentous because it had been so civilized. Jack understood that Victor had stepped back because of his illness, and Victor had seemed at peace with the decision.

Jack believed that Victor's ego hadn't allowed him to admit that he hadn't been up to the task, but Victor had played it off like he'd been humoring Nikki by devoting his attention to his recovery. Jack had seen the effect the illness had had on Victor, and he pondered whether it had been a lot worse than Victor had ever let on. Jack considered the suddenness of Victor's passing, and he questioned whether Victor had decided that he hadn't wanted to live if he couldn't have control over his life. Jack thought about Dina and everything she was going through, and he realized that every moment was precious.

In Chancellor Park, Jack helped Dina to a park bench and placed a shawl around her shoulders. He suggested that they stop off to pick up cider and cookies to take back to her room, but she remained silent and distant. Jack mentioned that he'd been talking with Traci about Victor earlier, and he'd always thought Dina and Victor had had a lot in common, being smart, tough, and successful in business, yet having difficult relationships with their families.

Jack remembered a time when he'd thought he'd never be able to forgive what Victor had done to him and his family, but he'd finally realized that he'd been nurturing all that anger and letting it become part of who he was. He declared that he'd never felt more liberated than the day he'd let it all go. Dina stared off into space, and Jack led her away to get some cookies.



Later, Jack and Dina returned to the park, but she remained unresponsive. He told her about his trip to Sedona to take time to reflect and said he'd learned something important about her in the process. She flinched when he moved to kiss her on the head. Jack explained that he'd looked at Dina's life through the lens of a broken kid for a long time, and all he'd been able think of had been how her actions had affected him, his dad, and the girls. He continued that he'd looked at things in a different way while he'd been away, and he'd tried to get a bigger picture of who Dina had been in the context of the times they'd lived in.

Jack said he'd thought about what had been expected of Dina and how few opportunities there had been for a young woman with a bright mind who'd needed more challenges and responsibilities. Jack had realized that she'd gone after things women weren't supposed to go after at the time because she'd wanted a bigger, fuller life. He admitted that he'd looked at it as a flaw for a very long time, but he'd since seen it as an act of true bravery. Jack knew that he'd judged Dina, and he'd told her more than once that he'd never forgive what she'd done.

Jack didn't know if Dina could hear him or even recognize who he was, but he wanted to apologize for never giving her the credit she'd deserved for the amazing life she'd lived. He praised her incredible accomplishments and said he was proud of her and proud to be her son. He added that he loved her, and she gasped. "Jackie?" she called out, smiling as she reached out to touch his face. "I love you, too," she said, and he held her close.

Jack returned home and told Traci that Victor's death had inspired him to really talk to Dina. He relayed that he'd shared his epiphany about how he saw life in a whole new light, and he'd told Dina that he forgave her, admired her, and loved her. He considered it a miracle that Dina had looked him in the eye and told him that she loved him, too, and it had reminded him of what an incredible life she'd actually lived. He recounted that it had hit him that their family had an incredible story, and he'd "be damned" if obituaries were the only record of the Abbott legacy. He decided to write down the story of their family, and he needed Traci's help to do it. Traci thought it was a wonderful idea.

At the Newman ranch, Nikki theorized that Adam had planned from the beginning to kill Victor and plant evidence to frame Victoria. Victor surmised that Adam had thought he'd succeeded in doing both, since Victoria's name was being dragged through the mud, and she'd spent the night in jail. Nikki was aghast that Adam had been willing to go that far to pursue his vendetta. Victor regretted that setting a trap had put his family in jeopardy, and he questioned how he could live with himself.

Nikki pressed Victor to eat something, referring to Nate's specific instructions. Victor recognized that she was trying to look out for him, but he didn't think he could eat a bite. Billy walked in and demanded to know "what the hell" had happened. Billy griped that he'd gone along with the plan because he loved Victoria and had put his faith in Victor, but the mother of his children was in jail. Nikki insisted that they were as shocked as Billy was, and Victor suggested that Billy stop venting and think about what they should do.

Billy thought the point of the charade was to get Adam to slip up and confess. He guessed that Victor was having a hard time accepting that his son had wanted him dead, so Victor was holding onto the illusion that Adam was a decent person. Victor contended that Adam desperately needed help, although he didn't expect Billy to feel any compassion. Nikki swore that they didn't fault Billy for that, and she encouraged Billy to work with them, not against them. Billy warned that the game had changed, and it had become dangerous, with Victoria stuck in the middle. Billy vowed to protect her if the Newmans wouldn't.

Nikki asserted that they were all on the same page where Adam was concerned, and they had to work together to protect Victoria. Billy apologized for going off, and he sympathized that Adam's actions had been a blow to Victor. Nikki recognized that it hadn't been easy for Billy to deal with Adam's resurrection, and Victor added that he'd witnessed Billy "going through hell" lately. Billy answered a call from Victoria, who was waiting to be arraigned, and she wasn't sure why it was taking that long. Billy mentioned that he'd been talking strategy with her parents, and he proposed that they scrap the plan. Victoria ordered them not to do anything until she was out.

Billy waited impatiently for an update, and he worried about what was causing the delay. Billy pointed out that Adam might be making things difficult, and he speculated that Adam had gotten Michael installed as the new D.A. because Adam had leverage over him. Nikki urged Billy to trust Victoria to handle herself. Billy groused that it was Adam he didn't trust.

Victoria arrived at the ranch, and Nikki and Victor embraced her. Billy asked why the arraignment had been delayed, and Victoria reported that her lawyer hadn't wanted to discuss it because other people had been within earshot. Victor revealed that Billy thought Adam had manipulated her case, but Victoria pointed out that she wasn't in legal jeopardy because Victor was alive. Billy argued that Adam didn't know that, and Victor informed Victoria that Billy had been lobbying all morning to end their plan. Victoria opined that there was too much at stake to pull the plug when they had Adam right where they wanted him.

Billy doubted that Adam had any remorse about allegedly murdering Victor, and he anticipated that Adam wouldn't stop going after Victoria if she was acquitted. Victoria had a gut feeling that Adam would botch things, so they had to keep pretending Victor was dead for a little longer. Nikki agreed to keep the masquerade going, but Billy seemed disconcerted. Victor suggested that they watch and see what Adam did with Victoria out on bail.

Later, Billy privately told Victoria that he'd accepted that he'd been outvoted, and he agreed to stay the course and wait for Adam to screw up. Victoria was concerned that it would be too much for Billy to be around Adam, since it might derail Billy's progress. Billy pledged to be the man Victoria needed and the father his children needed, and he refused to let Victoria fight Adam on her own. Billy added that the circumstances had changed when Adam had gone after her, and he considered Adam to be a huge threat. He insisted that he and Victoria were stronger together, and they kissed.

At Crimson Lights, Sharon made a beeline for Rey when he walked in. She rambled about Victoria's arrest and wondered if he seriously believed that Victoria had committed the crime. Rey stated that it was his job to follow the evidence, wherever it led. Sharon begged him to be straight with her, since he'd been accusing Adam when she'd last seen Rey. Rey shared that the police had received a tip about Victoria purchasing altered medication, and they'd subsequently found Victor's pills and Nate's stolen tablet with Victor's medical records in Victoria's desk. Rey remarked that all the evidence was there, and Sharon realized that he thought Victoria had been set up.

Sharon guessed that Rey still thought Adam had taken Victor's life, and she asked if Rey had any proof. Rey replied that he had nothing that would hold up in court, and Sharon argued that Adam hadn't had a motive. Rey countered that Adam had been at odds with his dad for most of his life, but Sharon was sure that Adam wouldn't cross the line without a reason. Rey grumbled that Adam woke up every day, looking to cross the line. Sharon voiced surprise that Rey had been assigned to the case, given his animosity. She worried that he'd be biased, and she wondered if he could keep his personal feelings about Adam out of the case.

Rey swore that he'd accepted what had happened between him and Sharon, and he was committed to separating his personal life from his job. Sharon understood how difficult that could be, but she'd always admired his integrity. Sharon reiterated that Victor and Adam had always had a complicated relationship, but she'd looked into Adam's eyes and believed him when he'd said he hadn't wanted Victor dead. Rey assumed that she wanted to believe that Adam had a conscience and a soul, but Adam had declared war by going after Nick's son and turning on people who hadn't done his bidding, like Chelsea.

Sharon defended that Adam had dropped the custody suit and that he'd been getting along with Chelsea. Sharon conceded that Adam could be emotional and impulsive, but he reined himself back in when he went too far. Rey was worried that Sharon had been drawn into Adam's web and that she'd end up as collateral damage, like Victoria had. Rey murmured that it was what he'd been trying to protect Sharon from all along, since he hadn't wanted her to get hurt, and he still didn't.

Sharon admitted that Rey could be right if Adam had been provoked enough to do something terrible. Rey reminded her that Adam had vowed to take down every Newman in his path, and he asked what more proof she needed. He realized that she still thought she could change Adam. "You can't," Rey flatly stated, and he exited the coffeehouse.

At his penthouse, Adam read an online article about Victoria being arrested for tampering with Victor's medication and the active police investigation into what had been ruled a homicide. Adam muttered that it wasn't supposed to have happened, since Victor wasn't supposed to have died. Adam continued reading about everything Victor had conquered to become a business legend and household name, only to have his life cut short by one of his own children. Adam stared despondently out the window.

Adam disdainfully read about the hundreds of millions of dollars Victor had donated to charitable causes. Adam accused Victor of throwing his money around when in doubt, and he growled that whoever had written the article hadn't known Victor at all. Adam griped that Victor's profile as a visionary builder of empires from humble origins was only half the story, since Victor had been a master manipulator, cold-blooded tyrant, and abusive control freak who'd liked to pit his kids against one another. Adam hissed that the supposedly loving father had turned on his own son by trying to put him down like a rabid dog by running him over in the road. "Why?" Adam bellowed.

Adam complained that the reporter didn't know the meaning of the word research, since they'd just cobbled together puff pieces from business rags. He scoffed at Victor being described as driven and admired, since it sounded like a car and not a person people wanted to know. Adam figured that Victor being labeled ruthless was half-true, since Victor had wanted everyone to think that. Adam snarled that it wasn't even close to the whole story.

Adam flashed back to being a young boy and declaring, "Happy birthday, Mr. Newman!" Adam had innocently inquired how old Victor was, and Victor had offered to explain after Adam opened a gift. Victor had presented Adam with boxing gloves and taught him how to defend himself. Adam's thoughts turned to being slightly older, when he'd seen Victor again and remembered meeting him before. Adam had recalled Victor gifting him with the boxing gloves and finding out that they shared the same first name. "How did it go so wrong?" Adam lamented.

Adam again flashed back to his youth, when he'd bet that Victor couldn't read a book as well as his dad had, and Victor had agreed to try. Later, Victor and Adam had played with a soccer ball, and Adam had chirped that he'd never known anyone with the same name as his. Hope had called it a wonderful, strong name, just like the kind of man Adam would grow up to be one day. "Like Daddy?" Adam had asked, and Hope had knowingly replied, "Yes, just like Daddy."

In the present, Adam wondered what would have happened if his mom had never made Victor swear to keep Adam's paternity a secret, so Adam would have known Victor was his dad while he'd been growing up instead of spending years trying to figure out who he was. Adam tearfully speculated that maybe none of it would have happened.

Adam used his phone to dictate a letter to the media. He admonished them for failing dismally in their feeble attempt to capture the life of Victor Newman, since there had been no mention of how cruel and controlling he could be, viciously turning on the people he'd claimed to love. Adam understood that the story of an impoverished mother having to choose between her sons and deciding to put Victor in an orphanage was clickbait, and perhaps it was why Victor hadn't wanted to choose between his own children, so he'd made them compete for his attention and love. Adam raged that the price of admission had been blind loyalty, and there had been consequences if Victor's children had challenged him.

Adam crowed that he'd always challenged his father, and once, his office had been moved to the men's room so Victor could make a point. Adam conceded that it had been funny, but most of the slights and constant put-downs hadn't been. Adam recalled that sometimes they'd gotten downright mean, but he and Victor had always managed to coexist. "Until..." Adam's voice trailed off, and he stopped recording and threw the phone aside. Adam said there had been just one more move in the game for him. He'd wanted the upper hand, but he hadn't wanted Victor gone. "Or did I?" a tortured Adam asked himself.

Adam stared at himself in the mirror and questioned whether he'd gotten what he'd wanted by becoming a man who'd killed his own father. He wondered how he could look his own kids in the eye again. The doorbell rang, and he found Sharon at the door. He asked why she was there, and she replied, "Because you need me."