Today’s The Young and the Restless recap for December 5, 2023, details Victoria and Cole’s journey, Nikki’s struggles, and Winters drama.

Victoria And Cole Want To Help

Victoria (Amelia Heinle) and Cole (J. Eddie Peck) visited Claire (Hayley Erin) in the Oregon jail. Claire was shocked to see them and wondered what difference it would make if they learned she really was their daughter. Would they help her?

Claire couldn’t believe they wanted her to accept that she was gaslighted and her whole life was a lie. Cole felt she might have been brainwashed and groomed do Claire finally told her story. She was only five when Aunt Jordan (Colleen Zenk) started lying to her about her parents.

She was home-schooled until her teens with Jordan making her feel like an outcast, including when she started attending an all-girls prep school. At this point, she wasn’t even sure how to stop believing Aunt Jordan’s story because it was all she knew. In the end, Claire agreed to a DNA test and Victoria and Cole agreed to help her with her legal situation.

Nikki Wants Vodka

Victor (Eric Braeden) tried to remain cheerful for Nikki’s (Melody Thomas Scott) sake, but it was clear she was still emotionally traumatized after their ordeal. Nick (Joshua Morrow) went home because he was in pain, so Victor realized Nikki might be in pain too. He was still hellbent on revenge against Jordan and Claire.

Victor finally remembered that Nikki unwittingly fell off the wagon and started wondering about her future sobriety. Nikki admitted she was struggling a bit and planned to go to a meeting that afternoon. Of course, she said that while staring at a bottle of vodka.

When Nikki laid down to take a nap, all she could dream of was the bottle of booze on a tray by her bedside in Oregon. She woke to her phone ringing and answered despite it being an unknown number. All she could hear on the other end of the line was some big band music. After she was back in the living room, she took a drink when Victor was getting her some tea.

Winters Family Problems

Nate (Sean Dominic) and Lily (Christel Khalil) met up at Society where Nate couldn’t wait to ask if she and Devon (Bryton James) had decided whether to re-hire him at Chancellor-Winters. Lily didn’t have an answer for him and said they were still considering it.

When Nate learned that Devon wanted to talk to Victor first, he was incensed because he knew Victor wouldn’t offer glowing reviews. Nate tried to defend himself as Lily explained they just wanted to know the other side of the story.

A frustrated Nate finally walked away and ran straight into Audra (Zuleyka Silver). They took their grievances to the GCAC where Nate proceeded to vent about the whole Victor and Devon situation. Audra advised her friend to stop playing the martyr. Even Audra didn’t believe that Nate was innocent in all of this.

Meanwhile, Devon met with Victor as planned to get his side of the story. Needless to say, Victor didn’t have flattering things to say about Nate and warned him not to bring him back on board at Chancellor-Winters. Devon

Lucy (Lily Brooks O’Brien) was all ready to move into Daniel’s (Michael Graziadei) new place, at least for a few weeks before she left on vacation with Heather (Vail Bloom). When Lucy went to her room, Daniel and Heather discussed their new dynamic as parents and hugged. Of course, that’s when Lily walked in. Daniel was thrilled to see Lily while Heather was perturbed that she had a key.

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