Young and the Restless: Cole’s Tragic Death & Holden’s Deceptive Plan Targets Claire!

Young and the Restless saw Cole Howard (J Eddie Peck) dies this week, tragically, and that leaves Claire Grace Newman (Hayley Erin) totally devastated and ripe for Holden Novak’s (Nathan Owens) scheme. Let’s get into how Cole’s death is the perfect chance for Holden to get even closer to Claire Grace Newman.

Young and the Restless: Cole Howard’s Tragic Death Rocks Genoa City

If you are current on your episodes, you know that Cole Howard, Claire Grace Newman’s father, is battling Legionnaires’ disease, which is a serious form of pneumonia. It’s very curable in real life, but Cole Howard’s case didn’t respond to antibiotics. So he came back to Genoa City to die.

After the hospital called Claire Grace Newman and Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) and said, “Get down here ASAP,” they rushed in. Cole Howard told them he was about to die and wanted to say goodbye to the love of his life and his daughter.

Claire Grace Newman’s Heartbreak and Regrets

Claire was so sad. She talked about not having enough time with Cole Howard and how much she wished for a father when she was little and growing up. But all she had was her psycho great aunt Jordan Howard (Colleen Zenk).

Claire Grace Newman is so upset by the idea of Cole Howard dying that she runs out of the room in tears. She misses his actual death. Cole Howard tells Victoria Newman goodbye, and of course, she’s crushed. They share a last kiss, and then Cole Howard passes away on Young and the Restless.

That happens on Thursday this week. Of course, Claire is upset with herself that she didn’t stick around to see Cole take his last breath.

Victoria Newman Faces Loss as She Comforts Claire on Young and the Restless

This was hard because Claire Grace Newman never knew her parents growing up. Crazy Jordan kidnapped her as an infant. But Victoria Newman and Cole Howard were making up for lost time with Claire Grace Newman and also with each other. They had rekindled their romance after so many years apart.

Victoria Newman and Claire both thought they were going to have so much more time with Cole Howard—a lifetime.

So, understandably, Claire is falling apart at the seams.

Y&R Spoilers: Holden Novak’s Scheme Targets Claire Grace Newman

Meanwhile, Holden Novak has gotten marching orders from Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) to target her among others. When Holden told Cane Ashby how close he’d already gotten to Claire Grace Newman, his boss was super excited about that.

Cane Ashby is going to be excited because Holden Novak has got a target on her. Claire is really sad, twice as sad because she needs her boyfriend Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) there to lean on. But thanks to Cane, we’ve got Kyle Abbott stuck over in France with no cell service.

Claire can’t reach him. She can’t text him, nothing. She needs Kyle so much right now. Claire is going to leave him a pitiful sad voicemail, but who knows when he will get it.

Kyle Abbott’s Absence Leaves Claire Vulnerable

I suspect this is all perfect timing for Holden Novak, who may take full advantage of Claire’s grief.

Also this week, Holden Novak makes a move on another target that Cane Ashby gave him—Chelsea Lawson Newman (Melissa Claire Egan). But Holden is not going to make any progress with her.

It turns out Chelsea Lawson Newman did see him with Cane Ashby at Crimson Lights. It looks like she didn’t know, but she did. Chelsea thinks that Holden Novak is working her, and she’s figured it all out.

Holden Novak lied to Chelsea and tries to cover, but as a former con woman, Chelsea Lawson Newman knows a lie when she hears it. So Holden doesn’t stand a chance of forming any sort of fake friendship with Adam Newman‘s (Mark Grossman) lover.

Holden Novak and Chelsea Lawson Newman: No Match for a Con Artist

But Claire Grace Newman needs somebody right now. She’s an easier mark. She needs a shoulder to cry on.

If you remember the other day, Claire Grace Newman was in the park and so upset about her dad Cole Howard’s health crisis that she was having a panic attack. Guess who was there to talk her down? It was Holden Novak.

They went for drinks and talked it out.

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Holden Novak Plays the Grief Card with Claire Grace Newman

So, you know, Claire’s going to be out somewhere, probably having another grief breakdown. Holden Novak may be in a position to be there for Claire again. Be that shoulder to cry on that she needs now.

I do think Holden Novak sincerely likes Claire as a friend because Holden was friendly with her even before Cane Ashby told him to be a little flirty, but really more of a friendly vibe.

Holden really wants to please Cane Ashby. He wants to keep those big fat paychecks rolling in.

So, unfortunately, I think Holden Novak will do whatever is necessary to get Cane the results he wants.

Audra Charles, Holden Novak, and Twisted Y&R Love Triangles

I am not getting a romantic vibe between Holden Novak and Claire because he’s still kind of fixated on Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver). However, that doesn’t mean Holden wouldn’t take advantage of a situation with Claire Grace Newman.

I could see her grieving and then sharing drinks at the GCAC. Holden Novak should drink there for free since he arranged the purchase of it for Cane Ashby in secret.

If you remember, Holden dislikes Kyle Abbott and he’s jealous of him because of his past with Audra Charles.

Holden Novak would obviously like to have Audra Charles to himself. But he also knows if she and Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) broke up, Audra might just make a play to get back with Kyle Abbott.

Drunken Decisions: Claire and Holden’s Risky Night at the GCAC

So Holden Novak may be hanging out with Claire when she’s upset, drinking while thinking about her poor tragically dead father. She gets a little drunk, tipsy drunk, something in there, on top of the grief.

Holden Novak takes advantage and winds up in bed with Claire Grace Newman in Holden’s room at the GCAC—something like that.

I could see something like that happening. Heck, Claire might wake up half-dressed in bed with Holden Novak and assume the worst. And he lets her assume it.

Let’s be real. It’d be really awful if Claire got drunk and Holden Novak had sex with her when she couldn’t consent.

Guilt, Secrets, and the Impact on Kyle Abbott and Claire on Young and the Restless

Now if they both got drunk together and Claire Grace Newman and Holden Novak had a messy, boozy one-night stand where neither was consenting, that’s messy. But it’s different than if Claire’s drunk and Holden was sober and targeting her, which would be utterly despicable.

But I do think he’s kind of awful, so maybe don’t count that out.

He knows Kyle Abbott is out of the country, so Holden Novak may comfort Claire, be that someone she needs at her low point, and things get out of hand.

Holden might not even have to take advantage. Claire could cross a line with Holden because she’s so upset and Kyle isn’t there.

Y&R Spoilers: Will Holden Novak and Claire Grace Newman Hook Up?

It’s pretty common for people to hook up after a loved one dies or after a funeral. It’s a life-affirming thing, according to psychologists.

Kyle Abbott is not around, so Holden might be the next best thing because Claire Grace Newman is not thinking clearly because of the grief.

You pour a little alcohol on that and you get a bonfire.

So if Holden gets Claire into bed one way or another, whether they do the deed or not, if Claire assumes they did, she’d feel guilty. She might confess to Kyle Abbott, come clean, which would set the groundwork for a breakup.

Cane Ashby’s Agenda: Using Holden to Shake Up Genoa City

We’ve also got summer spoilers for Audra Charles having old feelings bubbling up again, and that could be about Kyle Abbott since she seems totally turned off by Holden Novak. So wait to see.

If Claire Grace Newman winds up in bed with Holden Novak, you never know. Cane Ashby might give Holden a bonus.

It’s not entirely clear yet if Cane wants Holden Novak to get close to the people on the list to recruit them as allies, or set the stage to blow up their lives as collateral damage in the coming war of Cane vs. Victor Newman (Eric Braeden).

We’ll see how it all plays out.

Claire Grace Newman’s Next Move: Revenge or Redemption on Y&R?

I feel like Claire’s grief could make her an easy target, but she’s also got a wicked streak because of her crazy aunt and how she was raised.

If she found out Holden played her, he and Cane might need to watch their backs. No telling what Claire might do for revenge.

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