One of the things that fans of The Young and the Restless have always admired about Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) is her sharp intuition,
especially when it comes to reading the motives of her family members.
In the March 6 episode, Nikki finds herself in the middle of an awkward moment between Summer Newman (Allison Lanier),
Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor), and Claire Grace (Hayley Erin).
Summer, true to her usual self, attempts to make Claire feel uneasy while quietly fuming over the fact that her ex-husband has moved on.
The situation becomes even more uncomfortable when Nikki inquires about Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) and Sharon Newman (Sharon Case),
but Summer has little to share. In an effort to regain some control, Summer asks Kyle for a ride to work. Though he agrees, Summer is forced to witness Kyle sharing a tender goodbye kiss with Claire before they leave.
Once alone, Nikki takes the opportunity to comfort Claire, who confesses that Summer’s hostility and possessiveness toward Kyle seem to be increasing. Sensing her granddaughter’s distress, Nikki reassures Claire that she won’t allow either Summer or Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) to interfere in her relationship with Kyle. Nikki also makes an interesting observation about Summer—one that carries an ominous tone. She acknowledges her love for Summer but points out that the Marchetti CEO shares many qualities with her mother, Phyllis. This suggests that Summer may be preparing to use some of Phyllis’ notorious tactics to reclaim Kyle.
Given her mother’s history, Summer has two potential strategies for breaking up Kyle and Claire and winning him back. The first is the classic seduction approach. Fans will recall that last year, Phyllis made repeated attempts to lure Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian) away from Christine Blair (Lauralee Bell). By emphasizing their long-standing family ties and orchestrating intimate one-on-one moments, Phyllis managed to make Danny question his feelings.
Similarly, Summer might use their son Harrison (Redding Munsell) as a way to spend more time with Kyle. She has already been leaning on him emotionally while dealing with concerns about Phyllis, often seeking comfort in his arms. It wouldn’t be surprising if she starts inviting Kyle to meals under the pretense of discussing Harrison. If she follows her mother’s playbook, she might strategically plant affectionate gestures, hoping Kyle realizes she is still the best woman for him.
If Summer doesn’t take the seduction route, she might opt for manipulation. In the past, Phyllis joined forces with Nikki and Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) to prevent Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters) from rekindling her romance with Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman). It’s possible Summer will take a similar approach by enlisting Victor’s help.
While Victor may not directly sabotage Claire for Summer’s benefit, he could give her the idea to use Harrison as leverage. Kyle is deeply in love with Claire in part because of how well she gets along with Harrison, who has grown attached to her. If Summer subtly influences her son into blaming Claire for keeping his parents apart, Kyle might begin to see his girlfriend in a different light. Could Summer plant doubts in Harrison’s mind, making him turn against Claire? If so, that could be enough to drive a wedge between the couple.
However, if history has proven anything, it’s that Phyllis’ schemes rarely lead to lasting success. No matter how cunning Summer’s plan may be, she could ultimately face the same fate. Claire, though seemingly sweet now, was raised under the influence of the dangerous Jordan (Colleen Zenk). If Summer pushes too hard, she might unknowingly unleash Claire’s darker instincts—something she may live to regret.
With tensions rising and schemes unfolding, The Young and the Restless is set to deliver more drama as Summer plots her next move. Will her efforts succeed, or is she setting herself up for failure? Only time will tell.
Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.
