The Young and the Restless Recap Dec 22: Billy and Kyle bond, Nikki doubles down

In The Young and the Restless recap for Monday, December 22, 2025, Nikki stands firm in her threat to leave Victor, Claire gets Victor to open up about Jack, and Kyle and Billy have a heart-to-heart.

The Young and the Restless Recap

At the Abbott mansion, Kyle took time off work to wrap presents, though he told his dad it didn’t feel much like Christmas. Between the pending AI attack and thinking that Claire would never forgive him for what happened with Audra, Kyle wasn’t too hopeful about the future. Jack wondered if he was looking for excuses to give up on Claire.

Kyle admitted that it felt like he and Claire were always taking two steps forward and one step back. He noted that what drew him to Claire initially was that she could pull him back from his wild side, but the aloof version of Claire he saw in L.A. was someone not ready to settle down. Kyle told Jack that it was getting hard to hold on when it seemed like Claire was trying to pull away.

Jack assured Kyle he would be there for him no matter what happened, but suggested that neither of them was ready to settle down. Jack reminded him that he fell for Claire fresh on the heels of his breakup with Summer. Kyle didn’t think Claire was a rebound, but agreed she was his rock during the divorce and custody battle.

Billy came to the Abbott mansion and told Jack what Phyllis wanted: Marchetti handed over to Summer. Jack was delighted and surprised, but said that was a deal he could work with. Billy noted that Kyle put a present under the tree and asked if it was for old time’s sake. 

Kyle didn’t answer the question, but asked if Billy really thought that Nikki would come through and help Jack as she’d promised. “Not holding out hope…like you,” Billy quipped before pointing out that Kyle never responded to Claire’s gift.

Kyle noted that as busy as Billy was with Abbott Communications, he’d taken time to help out the family. Smirking, he reminded Billy that not long ago, he would have been too busy, or panicked, or too selfish to help anyone but himself. Billy told Kyle that he was giving back to Jack as he had supported him. 

Billy said he’d been thinking about his dad a lot lately and was reminded that John would advise them that you can’t control how other people act. “The only person stopping you from living your best life, being the best version of yourself — is you,” Billy quoted.

Billy shared with Kyle how he’d become a better person on his own accord. Kyle wondered what if Sally didn’t like it after all, now that he wasn’t the person she first met. Billy shrugged that, then she wouldn’t be the right person for him. He told Kyle he’d spent too many years focused on his hatred for Victor and was trying to have less negative energy so Victor didn’t occupy his every waking moment. 

Kyle could see Billy’s point, and they found common ground when Billy said he was trying to also let go of some of the pain that his mother had caused him. Kyle noted he’d also had to do that it was a huge relief to let it go. Billy said he wasn’t there yet, but was somewhat grateful to Victor and Jill. “If they didn’t bring me to my knees, I don’t think I’d be walking the positive path I am right now,” Billy said.

Kyle had to leave to pick up Harrison, but told Billy he admired the way he’d turned things around. “Let’s hope it continues,” he added before leaving. “You and me both,” Billy said quietly.

Claire came by the ranch and told Victor that she knew about his war on the Abbotts. Victor told her that it shouldn’t matter to her since she and Kyle weren’t together. Victor wanted to change the subject and asked why they broke up, and brought up Holden being a distraction for her. She warned him that Holden had a questionable reputation and was a “man of ill repute.”

Victor blamed Holden for having something to do with Damian’s death, and had disdain for him working for Cane. Claire finally realized that Victor had successfully changed the subject and asked him what his problem with Jack was. Victor said that under Jack’s facade of superiority, he was manipulative and had a gift for making people like him.

At Claire’s insistence, Victor recited some of his grievances with Jack. “He tried to take Newman Enterprises away from me on several occasions, he left me for dead twice, and he married the woman I loved and who still loved me,” Victor shared. He added that Nikki almost died because of Jack and he’d pay for it if it were the last thing he did.

Victor said he was glad that Claire’s “dalliance” with Kyle was over and warned her to stay away from the Abbotts because something was coming down the pike for them, and he didn’t want Claire caught in the crossfire.

Nikki asked Victoria to meet her at Society and told her about her argument with Victor and her ultimatum that if Victor didn’t give up on his vendetta against Jack, she’d walk out on him. Nikki shocked Victoria when she revealed that Victor showed her the door and invited her to walk out it. Victoria wondered if her mom wanted to take back her threat.

Nikki said he wasn’t going to back down and that Victor’s hatred of Jack and Billy took precedence over anything she or Victoria wanted. Nikki said Victor knew that Jack saved her life, but wanted to punish him for it rather than thank him, and because she didn’t take a stand sooner, the whole Abbott family could lose everything. 

Nikki thought the only way for Victor to see what he’s done is to feel the sting of losing someone that means something to him. She hoped Victor didn’t force her to make good on her threat. Victoria got a message from Claire, asking her to meet her at Crimson Lights right away. Nikki encouraged her to go, and told her that she didn’t need to take sides with her and Victor. 

Victoria went to meet Claire, and she told her about her and Victor’s conversation. Victoria wondered if Kyle would ask her to get involved, but Claire didn’t think so. Claire said she still didn’t know what she wanted with Kyle, and noted that she’d really enjoyed her time in L.A.

Claire admitted she really enjoyed her time with Holden and didn’t care if people were picking up on the attraction between them. Victoria wondered how well she knew him, but Claire said he’d opened up a bit to her. Victoria didn’t like that Audra was part of Holden’s past.

Claire wondered why no one in the family was doing something to stop Victor, other than Nikki. Victoria agreed that everyone but Victor had a soft spot for Jack. “Then how can you sit back and watch Grandpa try to destroy him, someone that you really like? Does your devotion to Grandpa just outweigh your compassion for anyone outside the Newman family?” Claire asked.

Victoria thought it was more complicated than that, but Claire disagreed. She said it was simple: she wouldn’t stand by and let Victor destroy a good man’s life simply because he could. “I won’t get on board with that,” Claire told her.

Jack came to meet Nikki at Society, and she told him about her fight with Victor and her ultimatum. Jack was astounded. Nikki said Victor couldn’t keep playing god with people’s lives and getting away with it. She didn’t know what would happen next, but said that Victor’s constant attacks against Jack had to stop.

At home, Victor poured himself a drink as he had a flashback to finding Jack and Nikki in a hotel room. He remembered accusing Jack of almost killing Nikki, and Jack explaining what his intention actually was. As Victor sat in a chair, he recalled Nikki’s threat to leave him.