Kyle Abbott paces nervously in his luxurious office, the view of the Genoa City skyline doing little to soothe him.

The CEO title feels like a gilded cage, especially under Victor Newman’s watchful eye.

Frustrated, he bursts into Audra’s office. “Audra, we need to talk,” he says, his voice tense.

Audra, accustomed to Kyle’s abrupt entrances, notices his stormy expression and asks, “What’s going on, Kyle?”

“It’s this damn contract with Victor. We have no real power; we’re just puppets,”

Kyle fumes, slamming a folder on her desk. “Victor exploits, threatens, and manipulates us.”

Audra nods in agreement, adding, “Even as CEOs, we have to run everything by him. Our decisions aren’t our own.”

Determined to change their situation, Kyle arranges a meeting with Victor. The tension is palpable as Kyle enters Victor’s office. “Victor, we need to talk,” he begins, trying to keep his voice steady. Victor’s piercing eyes narrow. “What is it, Kyle?”

“I’m done being your puppet. Audra and I are supposed to run this company, but you pull all the strings,” Kyle argues. Victor smirks and retorts, “You think you can handle everything on your own? Without me, you wouldn’t be where you are. I’ve built this empire.”

The argument escalates, echoing through the halls. Frustrated and unable to reach an agreement, Kyle storms out, leaving Victor with a look of cold determination.

Meanwhile, across town, Sally Spectra faces her own challenges. Her business is struggling, so she turns to Adam Newman for help. “Adam, I need your help,” she pleads at Crimson Lights. “My business is collapsing. I can’t do this alone.”

Adam, dealing with his own issues, responds, “I wish I could help, but Connor’s not doing well. I’ve had to put everything on hold to take care of him.” The strain on Adam is evident, as Connor’s condition has taken a severe toll on him.

At home, Adam tries to comfort Connor, whose emotional turmoil has left him withdrawn and sad. This situation weighs heavily on Adam, who has taken a leave of absence to focus entirely on his son.

On a lighter note, Faith Newman finds respite with friends Lucy and Daniel. As they enjoy a day out, Faith feels a sense of belonging. “I really like hanging out with you guys,” she says, smiling. Daniel responds, “We like having you around too, Faith.”

Faith’s smile falters as she thinks about her parents. “I just wish my mom and dad could be happy together again,” she admits. Lucy comforts her, saying, “Sometimes people need time to figure things out before they can come back together.”

Back at the Newman Ranch, Nikki and Nick Newman have a heart-to-heart about Faith. “We need to talk about Faith,” Nick begins, his voice filled with concern. “She wants us to be a family again.”