Phyllis, visibly distressed, was driving along the road, haunted by flashbacks of the traumatic night she was run off the road. The headlights and memories overwhelmed her, causing her to stop abruptly. "I can’t do this anymore!" she exclaimed in frustration.
At the Abbott mansion, Kyle spent a quiet evening alone until Claire knocked on his door, cheerful and holding streamers. "Happy New Year!" she greeted him. Kyle shared that he had spent the night with Harrison, playing video games until his son fell asleep by 10 PM. Claire reminded him that in some parts of the world, it wasn’t yet midnight. Smiling, Kyle suggested they ring in the new year together and they shared a countdown, kissing as midnight struck in a city in Mexico.
Later, as they settled in bed, Kyle confided in Claire, telling her how much closer he felt to her, not just because of their intimacy but because of the safety he felt around her since the beginning, even before things turned romantic. He asked if it frightened her that they had gotten so close so quickly. Claire acknowledged the trust she had in him but admitted that it was hard to trust everything else, given her lack of experience with love. Kyle understood, saying it made sense she’d feel confused about trusting love now that she was finally experiencing it.
Meanwhile, at the Athletic Club, Summer joined Daniel at the bar for drinks. They both wondered where Phyllis had gone and whether they should be concerned. Daniel, ever loyal, reminded Summer that Phyllis would always fight for them, though he knew no one had her back. Summer suggested they show Phyllis she could count on them. Daniel speculated that Phyllis wouldn’t be thrilled to see him with Christine, as she didn’t like losing, but they hoped 2025 would bring positive changes for her.
Phyllis soon arrived and revealed she had been out to clear her head. She vowed to prove Daniel wrong about her inability to move on. Phyllis declared that she was starting 2025 with a clean slate, ready to let go of everything bad from the previous year. Summer and Daniel, skeptical, teased her. Phyllis admitted she had seen Christine and Daniel’s make-out session, which drove her to take a drive. Near the spot of her accident, she had flashbacks, but this time, she could clearly see the face of the person behind the wheel—and it wasn’t Sharon. Phyllis finally came to terms with the truth: Sharon hadn’t been the one to run her off the road.
Daniel and Summer considered Sharon a likely suspect, but Phyllis’s flashbacks confirmed it wasn’t her. Phyllis then revealed that the person behind the wheel was someone she knew, but it wasn’t Sharon. She acknowledged that nearly losing her life had made her realize how many of her old habits needed to change, especially her obsession with Sharon. Although Phyllis would never apologize for targeting Sharon, she vowed to back off and let the authorities handle it. She assured her children that she was turning a new leaf.
Outside Society, Ian updated Nick on his family's whereabouts, prompting Nick to believe that the cop who had visited them would arrest Ian. However, the officer returned, confirming Ian's story and stating there was no reason to arrest him. Annoyed, Nick warned Ian to stay away from his family. If Ian caused them any harm, Nick promised he’d make him regret it. Later, Nick shared the unsettling news with Mariah, explaining that Ian was out of prison and could come back into their lives at any time.
Meanwhile, Mariah shared with Tessa, Nick, and Faith how Ian had once manipulated people into trusting him, only to lead them into dangerous situations. She admitted her concern about Ian’s potential influence on her again but reassured everyone that she was stronger now and wouldn’t let him get to her. The group tried to reach Sharon, but when she didn’t respond to their calls or texts, Faith and Nick went to Sharon’s house, finding it empty, and her car missing. Concerned, Nick immediately contacted Victor and asked him to meet with him and Nikki.
At the main house, Nick and Faith informed Victor about Ian’s release, and they speculated that Ian might have done something to Sharon. Victor, though shocked, vowed to track Ian down and confront him. Meanwhile, Mariah, still at Society, worried about Sharon’s safety, feeling that something was wrong, as Sharon would never ignore their messages unless something was amiss. Tessa, ever watchful, reassured her that Ian hadn’t slipped away unnoticed, but Mariah remained uneasy.
Elsewhere, Ian and Jordan discussed their plan to frame Phyllis for Sharon’s death. They intended to make it appear as though Phyllis had run Sharon off the road, ensuring that Sharon would drown in the same spot where Heather's body was discarded. Ian was confident that Mariah would be devastated by Sharon's death, and the only thing that could comfort her would be the love of a parent. Ian promised Jordan that their partnership was on the verge of success, with everything falling into place to manipulate Mariah into trusting him again—and in turn, getting closer to his ultimate goal of winning her back.
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