Tessa and Mariah.
The Young and the Restless recap for Monday, May 12 sees Mariah break down, leaving Tessa heartbroken. Plus, Phyllis listens as Billy and Sally plan, and Claire asks Kyle to try to win over Victor.
What Happened On The Young and the Restless
At the park, Tessa (Cait Fairbanks) found Mariah (Camryn Grimes) curled up and crying. Her wife pleaded with her to open up, but Mariah insisted everything was fine. She claimed she was just tired, overwhelmed with work, and too drained to even read Aria a bedtime story. But Tessa wasn’t buying it. This wasn’t about exhaustion. It was about Ian (Ray Wise).
Mariah admitted seeing Ian again had reopened old wounds she thought were long buried. His crimes—murdering Heather (Vail Bloom), drugging Sharon (Sharon Case)—had left deep scars, and now the trauma was bleeding into her everyday life. Tessa reminded her that she was a victim, not a co-conspirator, but Mariah couldn’t stop blaming herself.
Tessa apologized again for suggesting Ian deserved forgiveness. She offered therapy, counseling, anything to pull Mariah back to her. But Mariah, gasping through tears, could only manage, “I’m sorry,” before fleeing. Tessa collapsed onto a bench, crushed. Moments later, Daniel (Michael Graziadei) stumbled across her and silently offered a shoulder to cry on.
MORE: Find out what happens next on Y&R.
End of the Road
Meanwhile, Daniel had a heavy conversation of his own earlier in the day. Over coffee at Crimson Lights, Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) told her son she was ready to move on from Abbott Communications. She took shots at Billy (Jason Thompson) and Sally (Courtney Hope), questioning their talent and declaring that their company was doomed. Then, she turned to Daniel and proposed they start something new together.
Daniel wasn’t in the mood. He told his mother he couldn’t move forward until he processed the grief. But Phyllis wouldn’t let it go, so he offered a compromise: if she found something truly inspiring, maybe he’d consider it. “I’m going to find a fire,” she declared, energized.
Over at Society, Billy updated Sally on his latest brush with Victor (Eric Braeden). The Newman patriarch had offered a ceasefire if Billy spilled details about Dumas. Billy was tempted to use Victor’s paranoia to stir the pot. Sally warned him not to get pulled back in. He agreed, promising to step away from Chancellor and focus solely on Abbott Communications. They kissed, all smiles, unaware that Phyllis was standing just feet away, eavesdropping.
Naive Plans
In the park, Claire (Hayley Erin) proposed an ambitious plan to Kyle (Michael Mealor): win Victor over through love and consistency. Maybe picnics with Harrison (Redding Munsell) would soften him. Kyle wasn’t convinced. He reminded her that Victor had threatened them and banned the apartment sale.
Still, Claire explained why her grandfather’s approval mattered so much. Growing up with no family, she had idolized Victor. Kyle respected that, but he couldn’t understand why they should bend their lives around one man’s stubborn hate. When Claire suggested slowing things down to make Victor feel heard, Kyle asked if they were even in a two-person relationship anymore, or if Victor had become a third wheel.
Despite his doubts, Kyle promised to keep trying. Claire had one more idea, but she didn’t say what.
