Host a box of tissues (and a tracker for Gotham City lawyers), because Genoa City is about to
unleash one of its most intense Thursdays yet. From solemn goodbyes to spiraling secrets, here’s your must-see breakdown of July 3, 2025.
1. Cole’s Heart‑Wrenching Farewell: When Hope Runs Out
Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) and Claire Newman (Hayley Erin) are still mourning the shock of returning
home just in time. Their beloved Cole Howard (J. Eddie Peck) has taken a devastating turn, and Thursday’s episode brings the gut‑punch: the last possible medical avenues have dried up. The doctors have confirmed—resignation is the only path forward (celebdirtylaundry.com).
At the hospital, Victoria’s controlled demeanor is cracking under the weight of what she’s been told. In a perfect storm of guilt and grief, Claire demands more fights, more interventions. Yet Cole, ever composed, calmly explains to his daughter and ex‑wife that he’s “ready to say goodbye”—accepting an untimely fate.
The set‑up is tear‑jerking theater: Claire’s tears, Victoria’s trembling resolve, and Cole’s final embrace—this is classic soap heartbreak, amplified. If a flatline hits tonight’s episode, expect Genoa City to kneel in solidarity with the Newmans.
2. Mariah’s Guilt Spiral: Haunted by a Night of Terror
Meanwhile, Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes) is suffering through a very different torment. Haunted by the fallout of her last business trip, she’s plagued by flashbacks—late-night drinks, a creepy stranger (Michael Swan), and a haze of something terrible unfolding (soaphub.com).
She’s convinced there’s a crime on her hands. Drunken shear panic. Memories flicker: a face she barely knows, a sip too many, then nothing but dread and dread-induced visions of Ian Ward. Words escape her.
She’s stuck in her head—a victim of her own psyche. Will she confess her possible part in a fatal accident? Will the truth dribble out in fits and starts? Or will it crash in like a tsunami? Either outcome promises a seismic shift in her relationships with Tessa, Aria… and Holden.
3. Holden Steps In: Comfort or Con?
Enter Holden Novak (Nathan Owens): new in Genoa City, but unexpectedly in the right place at the right time. Mariah breaks at the edge, vulnerable, and Holden emerges as her solace—a confidante amid chaos (sportskeeda.com, soaphub.com, celebdirtylaundry.com).
Soap watchers know there’s no such thing as a free hug. Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) may have deployed Holden strategically, to be Mariah’s emotional lifeline… and leverage point (sportskeeda.com). But Holden’s kindness feels real. Could their bond grow? Could it crack Cane’s plan? Or will Holden’s empathy open deep wounds we didn’t know existed?
4. Chelsea’s Con‑Artist Radar: She Can Sniff Them Out
Over at Chancellor-Winters Global, Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan) is doing what she does best: hunting a con. With Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) by her side, she’s put together enough odd clues to suspect Cane could be hiding something massive—maybe even a secret identity (sportskeeda.com).
Is Cane masquerading as Aristotle Dumas? Chelsea has smelled the scheme from a mile away—and she isn’t about to ignore the stench. As the walls crack, tonight could bring new evidence, explosive confrontations, or the first big reveal of Cane’s biggest lie yet.
But meanwhile, Adam has taken his urgent intel to Nice, heading to Victor with details that could drown the Newman empire in scandal.
5. Victoria’s Latest Shock: Family News That Hits Hard
Speaking of Victoria, she’s already rocked by Cole’s prognosis, but Thursday brings yet another surprise. According to hints, she’ll hear news that further rattles her—possibly connected to Adam’s mission abroad (celebdirtylaundry.com).
This could be anything: a betrayal at home, a business shake‑up, a medical emergency, or a family bombshell. Whatever the shape, expect her composure to shatter under mounting pressure.
6. Cane’s Hidden Agenda: The Mastermind Revealed?
Cane Ashby has always been a man of secrets—and since returning to Genoa City earlier this June, he’s been an enigma wrapped in Vogue and con artistry (soaphub.com). Now, he’s edging closer to a defining moment. Is this when his clandestine identity as Aristotle Dumas comes out? Does Chelsea have the smoking gun?
Or does Cane have yet another twist? He’s had the Newmans and Abbotts playing checkers while he plays 4D chess. Tonight might show either his undoing… or the reinforcement of his empire.
What This Thursday Means for Genoa City
- Cole’s goodbye may be the emotional milestone of the week—Newman grief always hits hard.
- Mariah’s secrets could upend family dynamics, marriages, and alliances.
- Holden’s entry might shift loyalties and refract more secrets through the emotional spectrum.
- Chelsea’s con‑hunting could bring visibility to Cane’s labyrinth of lies.
- Victoria’s shocker could unravel more than just a plotline—possibly her sanity.
Essentially, if you thought drama peaked with Cane’s return, tonight might rewrite that headline.
Final Act Predictions
- Cole’s passing – Will he flatline on screen? I wouldn’t bet against it.
- Mariah’s meltdown – Confession or breakdown seems inevitable.
- Holden’s role – Protector? Sting? Hero? He’s primed for big moments.
- Chelsea’s findings – Will evidence shatter Cane’s façade?
- Victoria’s breaking point – Another crisis could push her over the edge.
Tune in Thursday to CBS or stream afterward on Paramount+. The pieces are moving—and when Genoa City falls, it doesn’t go quietly.
The Young and the Restless – Thursday, July 3: expect tears, revelations, and Earth‑shaking fallout. Don’t blink—or you’ll miss the moment everything changes.
