The July 17 episode of The Young and the Restless brings intense momentum to the murder investigation swirling around Nick, with fresh clues, complicated loyalties, and a looming threat of betrayal shifting the narrative. Chance continues to follow the trail, now more tangled than ever, especially after the bloody dagger turns up in Nick’s private train car bathroom. Nick insists he’s being framed and claims Cane orchestrated the setup to protect himself. From Nick’s perspective, Cane saw a window to deflect suspicion and took it—possibly to avoid charges himself. While Nick doesn’t appear to have a solid motive, Cane’s insistence that he was the intended target could imply Nick struck first in some kind of twisted act of self-defense or revenge. Still, Chance knows he can’t rule anything out.
The situation grows more complex when Phyllis enters the picture. She recalls seeing Nick earlier in the maze, visibly angry and shaken. Her loyalties also appear to be shifting, considering she already told Cane she would choose him over Nick if she had to. That admission alone suggests she may tell Chance what she witnessed, which could tip the investigation in Cane’s favor and cast Nick in an even darker light. Phyllis has always walked a fine line between self-preservation and genuine concern, and in this case, her instincts may push her toward what feels safest—for her and for her future with Cane.
Lily, meanwhile, adds fuel to the fire when she shares a revealing detail with Chance. She recounts a tense exchange between Nick and Amanda not long before Damian’s death. She recalls how Nick lost his temper, especially when the topic turned to Cane, and how he abruptly stormed off on his own. This timeline could be critical, particularly now that multiple people are placing Nick near emotional breaking points in the hours leading up to the murder.
Cane continues to deny any involvement, claiming that he never had enough time alone to plant the dagger or tamper with any evidence. After leaving the crime scene, he was either with Phyllis or Chance, making it difficult for him to double back. Nick, however, is not buying it. He believes someone else may have assisted Cane—possibly Carter or someone else on Cane’s payroll. If that theory holds water, the focus of the investigation could expand quickly and draw in more characters than initially expected.
Victor, upon learning of these latest developments, makes a firm and potentially dangerous promise: Nick will not go down for this. He’s ready to do whatever it takes to protect his son, even if it means intervening with the investigation or pulling strings behind the scenes. With Victor now fully involved, Chance may find himself under pressure from all sides. As new evidence is uncovered and alliances shift, it’s clear that the real truth behind Damian’s murder is still buried beneath layers of lies, rage, and desperation—and it’s only a matter of time before someone cracks.