Michael arrives in Claire’s room at Memorial, and she tells him she’s decided she wants to take Victor up on his offer. Michael wasn’t expecting to hear from her so soon. Claire thinks that the sooner her aunt is caught the better. Can he arrange for her release? Michael grins. He already got the ball rolling. Claire wonders how that’s possible when Victor told her it was her decision. “Was that a lie?”

Michael is just doing his job. He likes to do as much as he can ahead of getting the green light. Claire muses that it sounds like Victor thought he would get his way. Michael explains he had to anticipate and get ready. Claire grins that he’s good at his job, but she’s not sure she believes him. “I think you’re covering for my grandfather.” Michael asks if it changes her decision. She wants to be what her family needs her to be and help catch Jordan. It’s full speed ahead.

At the ranch, Victoria rants at her father about going behind her back to influence Claire. Victor is doing everything to keep their family safe, “Why can’t you see that?” Nikki appears. She heard raised voices and wants to know what’s going on. Victoria says, “Dad is being impossible.” Victor points at his daughter, “You are being obstinate.” Nikki assumes this has to do with Victor’s plans for Claire. Victoria complains that not only has he pressured Claire, now he’s arranged for Michael to have her released early. She and Cole found out after the fact because Victor went to Claire behind their backs. Victor is doing what’s best for the family and insists Claire won’t be put at risk. Victoria argues that other damage can be done here. Putting her in Jordan’s path could undo all the progress she’s made. Victoria appeals to Nikki to help make her father see. Nikki has come to see Claire’s strength and poise; those are gains that can’t be lost. Victoria assumes she’s agreeing with her, but Nikki says, “Those are the reasons I’m starting to think your father’s plan makes sense.”

Victoria can’t believe she’s taking Victor’s side on this. Nikki says that knowing Claire is free and living under their roof, Jordan won’t be able to resist making a move. They won’t be truly safe until she’s dealt with. Victoria fumes over them wanting to put her daughter in that psychopath’s crosshairs. Victor vows that no harm will come to Claire. “End of discussion.” He walks out and Victoria asks her mother how they can be willing to put Claire at risk. Nikki says Victor has promised she’ll be safe and she seems willing to do it. Victoria says she’ll play the same Newman card her dad did to get Claire to agree to it. “I’ll tell her if she goes along with it that I’m going to turn my back on her. Maybe the threat of losing everything she’s gained will put an end to this insane idea!” Nikki chastises Victoria. She won’t do that. She asks her to trust her father. Victoria’s tired of them ignoring her feelings about this and walks out. Nikki heads for the bar, but there’s no booze.

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In Tucker’s suite, he asks Ashley over the phone, “Meet for a drink?” She suggests the Athletic Club lounge. He says he’s in the middle of things and she realizes Audra’s there. “What the hell is it you want, Ashley?” Audra grabs the phone and seethes, “I told you to back off. What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Ash tells her she’s just inviting an old friend out for a drink. Audra snaps, “Don’t be coy, it doesn’t suit you.” Ashley thinks she’s under Audra’s skin now that she’s back in the game. Audra is embarrassed for her. Ashley reminds her she’s the only woman that Tucker has ever loved, “This is just another chapter in our book.” Audra rants that this always ends with Tucker heartbroken. “No one wants to play with you, Ashley. Least of all, Tucker.’ Ashley wonders if he knows she threatened her. Audra says he does, and he’s as sick of this as she is. “Have some dignity and leave us both alone.”

Ashley can tell Audra’s threatened by her, that’s why she grabbed the phone. Audra insists she’s just tired of her wasting their time. Ashley muses, “Or, you’re terrified that Tucker’s going to agree to meet me. You can hear it in his voice that he’s not over me.” Audra informs her that Tucker wants nothing to do with her. Ashley replies, “Then let him tell me that to my face.” Audra hollers that she doesn’t get to call the shots. “Have a nice life!” she says as she hangs up.

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On the other end, Ashley’s voices in her head echo, “That didn’t go the way you wanted, did it? Let go. Move on. It’s a mistake. Stop clinging. Nothing good will come of it.” She stands up and tells herself that Tucker will come around. “He can’t resist me.”

In Audra’s suite, she tells Tucker that Ashley is desperate and won’t take no for an answer. She wants him to tell her to her face that he’s done. He thinks maybe that’s a good idea. Audra fumes that he’ll be playing right into her hands. If he agrees to see her, he’s letting her win. Tucker will tell her in no uncertain terms that it’s over. Audra pleads with him to just ignore her. Tucker thinks that he has to be the one to shut her down. Audra’s sure it’s a trap. Tucker insists she can’t win him back. It’s best to be absolutely clear. Audra throws up her hands, “Go have that drink with her.” Tucker wants Audra to come with him. She needs to see them together. Audra says, “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Tucker texts Ashley to see where she is.

At the Abbott Estate, Ashley reads Tucker’s text and grins.

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At Memorial, Michael tells Claire she just has to sit back and let him work his magic. Her reports are exemplary and having the Newmans on their side will go a long way. He warns part of his argument will include restrictions on what she can do… she’d be in their custody. Claire worries about safety, “My aunt… she’s devious.” Michael assures her that Victor and the court will insist on extra security. She’ll also have to continue her therapy on an out-patient basis. Claire asks what the odds are she’ll be released. Michael tells her she has the best lawyer she could possibly have. “Be ready. You could be starting your new life as a Newman by breakfast tomorrow.”

Later, Cole stops by to visit Claire. She wants to talk to him about Victor’s plan. He knows she’s feeling pressure. Claire feels a responsibility. Cole asks her not to let that motivate her decision. Her trauma is still fresh. Claire promises she’s considered this from all sides. Cole says he’ll support her decision then. She tells him that means a lot. Claire’s glad because she told Michael she’ll go along with Victor’s plan. “I could be released as early as tomorrow.” His expression belies his real feelings. He doesn’t love Victor’s scheme and her mom is really opposed to it. Claire says she needs to do this. They need to be protected from Jordan. Cole says she needs protection as well and has to ask if she’s ready to face the outside world again.

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At the ranch, Nikki tells Victor that Victoria stormed out and is furious with them. Victor’s sorry about that. Nikki asks what will happen with Claire if Michael gets her released. Victor says she’ll stay with them, Victoria can see her and will set aside her anger at them. Nikki muses that Victoria can be pretty stubborn. Victor tells Nikki they’ll make a big splash in the press about the long-lost Newman rejoining the family and show a picture with Claire, Victoria, and Cole. Nikki gasps, “What?!” That seems very risky, even with security. Victor says they’ll stage the photo as though it was taken in Victoria’s house, “That will be the trap.”

At Memorial, Claire admits to Cole that she’s nervous. Jordan is dangerous. He tells her she doesn’t have to leave the hospital. Claire missed out on a lot of love and now she can have it by doing this. Cole assures her that she’ll have their love whether she does this or not. He hates to see her lose her momentum. Claire will keep doing her therapy. She won’t miss this room… or the pudding. Only the kids in the children’s ward. Cole thinks she could continue to visit them. He’s not sure how Victoria wants to handle it, but she has younger siblings to meet. Claire says the thought of meeting them scares her. She can’t imagine what it will be like for them. Cole’s sure their parents will prepare them. Claire imagines having siblings, holidays, and Sunday dinners. Cole grins as she talks about watching movies and eating popcorn. Spending time with the kids there is part of why she feels ready to do this.

Tucker meets Ashley in the GCAC dining room, with Audra hot on his heels. Ashley snarks that she doesn’t trust him to be alone with her. Tucker asked her to come. Ashley muses about him appeasing the jealous girlfriend. Audra wants her to stop wasting their time with her pathetic attempts to get Tucker back. Ashley denies it; it’s a misinterpretation. Audra prompts Tucker to tell her it’s over. Ashley purrs, “Yeah, Tucker, tell me. Tell me it’s over and that we don’t have a second chance.”

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Tucker tells Ashley, “I think it would be our third chance, or fourth or fifth. I don’t know, I’ve lost track.” Ashley points out the play on words, “He can’t really say it.” Tucker snaps that she didn’t let him finish. They’ve screwed things up too many times to count, which should have told him something. They don’t work and he’s just been too dumb to realize it, “Until now.” Ashley asks, “Is that really how you feel?” Audra snarks, “Oh my God, Ashley.” Ashley decides they should drop the charade, “We all know how this is going to go.” She tells Tucker he loves her and she loves him too. She’s that woman he wanted her to be when they were in Paris on their honeymoon. She knows that together they can turn Glissade into the powerhouse they knew it could be. “I want it back. I want what we had back, Tucker.” She knows she made it fall apart, but she can fix it. Ashley tells Audra she can walk away. She steps up to Tucker and touches his chest. “You know that everything I’m saying is the truth. We can have everything we ever dreamed of. I know you can’t resist that.” With that, she pulls him in for a kiss. Audra scoffs, “Wow, classy.” Ashley walks out.

At the ranch, Nikki tells Victor he’s right — if Jordan sees Claire with Victoria and Cole as a family, she won’t be able to resist that. Victor says, “She’ll make a move, and we’ll be ready.” Nikki wonders how they’ll get Victoria to agree to a staged photo shoot. Victor says Nikki will have to talk her into it. Michael bounds in and says he just met with Claire, “She’s all in.” Victor knew she would be. Michael warns she was upset that they’d already laid some of the groundwork before she agreed. He tried to smooth it over, but she’s very savvy. Victor grunts, “She’s a Newman!”

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Victoria arrives in Claire’s room and declares that she was just with her parents, “We need to put an end to his craziness.” Claire says she told Michael to go ahead with her release and there’s nothing she can say to dissuade her. Victoria asks if she even knows the details of her father’s plan. What happens after she sends Jordan a message. Claire doesn’t know, but she thinks it will flush Jordan out of hiding. Victoria thinks he’s keeping them in the dark because there’s a bigger risk involved. Claire feels he may be doing it because Victoria’s fighting it so hard. She knows Victor loves his family. He won’t put them in danger. Victoria agrees; not on purpose. But he can’t control everything. Claire warns Victoria that she can do this with or without her. She’d prefer to have her blessing. “I feel like someday I could be a real part of your family.” Victoria sighs, “You already are.” Cole adds, “A full part.” Claire then wants to contribute. “Give me this chance. Mom, support me on this please.”

Victoria wants to give Claire what she wants, especially when she calls her ‘Mom’, but she’s terrified of not doing every single thing she can to protect her. Claire understands, but she’s an adult. “Am I doing this with or without you.” Cole thinks they need to trust their daughter’s instincts; she has a lot of her mother in her once she sets her mind to something. Victoria agrees, but she’ll be setting non-negotiable ground rules for Victor.

At the ranch, Michael tells Victor that he’s sent everything to the judge. He’s hoping he’ll rule tomorrow morning. Victor says that once Claire’s out, they’ll need to move with the press very quickly. Michael learns that Cole and Victoria aren’t in on the photo idea. Victor is confident they’ll get on board.

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Tucker and Audra return to their suite with her ranting that they need to get away from Ashley’s toxicity. “I want to go to Paris tonight.” Tucker’s distracted. She shouts, “Hey! Do we have a problem?”

At the Abbott mansion, Ashley pours a scotch and paces. The voices in her head don’t like where this is headed. “Ashley, wake up. Wake up!” Ashley sets her drink down and suddenly looks scared. She cowers and cries as she looks around the living room.

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Next on The Young and the Restless: Victor enlists Claire to set a trap for Jordan, Ashley has a troubling experience, and Victoria faces a rough decision.

It’s a Who’s Who of the Young & Restless cast in photos in the gallery below.