Your brother… or your ex-wife?
On the May 7 episode of The Young and the Restless, Billy was furious that Jack refused to hate Nikki as much as Billy does. (Billy was furious with Jack about multiple topics during that conversation, including Diane’s choice of tapestries. Billy is very mature.) Billy whined that Nikki was just as responsible for taking Chancellor away from Billy as Victor and Jill were, so why wasn’t Jack more incensed on Billy’s behalf? Jack distracted Billy with something else for him to throw a tantrum about. But was Billy actually onto something?
Pick a Side
Jack (Peter Bergman) is perfectly happy to fund Billy’s (Jason Thompson) new company, so his little brother can take on Victor (Eric Braeden). Jack actually considers Adam (Mark Grossman) a friend, but as long as Adam is working for his Daddy, Jack understands that Adam may get attacked by Billy, as well.
But Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott)…ah, Nikki is a different story.
Lost Love
Jack was married to Nikki. They lost a son together (Victor’s fault, but no one is allowed to mention that). Jack was a better, at least a kindler, gentler, and less controlling parent to Victoria (Amelia Heinle) and Nick (Joshua Morrow), than Victor could ever hope to be.
Jack’s feelings for Nikki are complex. And they are very, very important.
Best Laid Plans of Mice and Newmans
If it comes down to a split-second decision…protect Billy…or protect Nikki…who will Jack choose? His brother has proven to be his own worst enemy. There is no situation that a self-destructive Billy can’t make worse for everyone involved, including himself. If Jack protects Billy, Billy could still screw it all up in the end, anyway.
But if Jack protects Nikki, then he gets to keep pretending the woman he once loved doesn’t constantly choose her psycho, controlling husband over Jack, who would literally give his life for her. That’s the Nikki Jack prefers to believe he married.