The Young and the Restless Recap, February 19: Billy and Victoria throw civility out the window

Here is your The Young and the Restless recap for Thursday, February 19, 2026 featuring Billy and Victoria going to war over their children and his Chancellor takeover.

What happened on The Young and the Restless

The Young and the Restless kicked off in Los Angeles, where Claire met Holden on the rooftop of the hotel. He noticed that Claire seemed much happier when she was in LA. Her family had gone through a lot recently. Everything the Newmans had worked for was stolen by Cane, Phyllis, and subsequently Billy.

Claire didn't want to bring her phone on a hike with Holden, so she could remain present. He put a quick halt to their plans. Holden got off the phone with Cane's PI, and he couldn't reach Lily and the twins. There was no sign of them. He worried that something had gone wrong and they might have been harmed.

Claire heard rumblings about Victor's plan, but she didn't know he'd actually follow through. Holden apologized for keeping it from her. However, this was quite sensitive. Claire defended Victor and was adamant that Victor would never harm Lily or her children. Victor had a ruthless streak. This wasn't out of the realm of possibility.

Holden informed Claire that Cane had been double-crossed by Phyllis. She was the sole owner of Newman Enterprises. To make matters worse, nobody could reach her. Phyllis had dropped entirely off the grid. Claire said that it was a nightmare for her family. Everything Victor spent a lifetime building was gone in an instant. She considered this to be some sort of karmic payback.

Claire did hold Phyllis accountable for her actions, but she also understood why Phyllis turned on Cane. He could not be trusted. Holden recognized why Claire would have ill feelings toward Cane, and he noticed concern in Claire's voice. Claire was understandably worried about Holden's continued connection to Cane. He wasn't a good guy. At least that's what she believed.

Claire recalled the events in France. Cane's life has been in a downward spiral since Aristotle Dumas's reveal. Every life in Genoa City had been impacted by his selfish actions. Holden switched the subject to his relationship with Claire, but she stopped him in his tracks. She still wasn't ready for anything serious following her breakup with Kyle.

Claire assured Holden that it wasn't entirely his fault. However, she wasn't emotionally ready for a relationship. Holden asked what about him kept her from making a commitment. He asked what he could do to prove himself to her. Claire ignored the question and discussed her return to Genoa City.

Claire insisted that Holden was paranoid and overthinking the situation. Holden said that Claire couldn't get the company back if Victor himself hadn't been able to do it. What confused Holden was why Claire would travel all the way to LA if she was that worried about her family. Claire's face was a dead giveaway. She hadn't given up digging for answers about Holden and Audra's past.

Holden assumed that Claire had gotten nowhere with her search, so he asked whether she planned to let it go. She hated that Cane lived a double life full of secrets and lies. Claire was self-aware enough to realize how hypocritical that sounded, given how she had acted when she first arrived in Genoa City.

Holden wondered what they had to do with him. Claire explained that she lived in her truth, regardless of the cost. She has no patience for someone who keeps secrets from her. Claire couldn't consider a relationship with Holden without knowing the truth about what happened with him and Audra.

Holden asked if Claire believed that he and Audra could have been capable of making someone disappear for good. Claire wasn't sure what he was capable of. Their interactions were superficial at best. It was fun, but it didn't have much depth. Claire had no idea who Holden was beyond the facade he presented to the world.

Cane questioned why Phyllis hadn't returned to the train to gloat in his face. She got everything she wanted. However, her disappearing act was unlike her. Phyllis should be shouting her victory from the rooftops. Cane reminded her that she couldn't hide from him forever.

Cane didn't hold anything against Phyllis for taking all of Newman for herself. Honestly, this was likely an expected outcome. Phyllis always looks out for Phyllis. Always has. Always will. However, after everything they'd been through together, Cane knew how much this meant to Phyllis. The time of Phyllis being overlooked by everyone in Genoa City was over. He admitted that he let her down.

Cane promised that he didn't intentionally let her down. Things changed, and Victor forced her hand. He didn't want any harm to come to his family. Still, Cane knew that Phyllis only did what she felt like she had to. He forgave her for taking such a drastic step to incapacitate him.

Cane pleaded with Phyllis not to cut him out of her life. Even if it didn't work out in business, he wanted to maintain their personal relationship. Daniel stopped by the train and offered to help Cane with Phyllis. Cane thanked Daniel for agreeing to the meeting and asked whether he had any information about Phyllis.

Daniel revealed that Phyllis took off to Milan in the Newman jet to plead her case to Summer. She had no allies and was desperate to make things right with her children. Daniel thought that Phyllis wanted to convince Summer to come back with her to Genoa City. However, that was a hard sell. Summer was furious with her mother.

Daniel believed that there was no coming back from this. Phyllis crossed a line this time. Daniel blamed Cane and Phyllis for the escalation that led to Lily and the twins being abducted. They set all of this in motion.

Daniel questioned why Victor kept Lily and the kids if Cane wasn't a part of the takeover. Cane needed Daniel to help persuade Phyllis to give Newman back. He couldn't risk Victor harming his family. Daniel didn't think he could do anything to convince his mother, one way or the other. Cane then reminded Daniel that he once loved Lily. Would he take the chance of her being harmed?

Phyllis asked Daniel to mediate with Summer in hopes of being forgiven. He wasn't interested, and neither was Summer. She planned to shut the door in her mother's face if she showed up. Daniel was surprised that Cane had compassion for Phyllis after she screwed him over. He wanted to put an end to the madness, but he needed his help to do it.

At Society, Jack asked Billy what Victoria had done to go too far. She was sending the children to boarding school, and he was blindsided by the headmaster contacting him for his signature. Jack understood that Billy was upset, but he didn’t think it was a surprise. Jack took it upon himself to remind Billy that he unseated the Newman family from power. Naturally, his ex-wife would be out for revenge.

Business was business. Billy believed that his children should’ve remained off limits. He spotted Victoria coming into the restaurant with Nate, which was the perfect time to confront her. Billy asked how she dared to take his children away from him. Even though the children loved being in Genoa City, she was determined to send them away.

Billy asked what the kids needed protection from. He was convinced this was a way to spite him. Billy accused Victoria of being just as bad as the rest of the Newmans. Nate tried to step in, and Billy told him to "stay the hell out of it."

Billy reminded Victoria about Victor's past actions. He didn't do anything that her father hadn't done himself. Jack warned Billy not to say anything in anger that would further escalate the situation. Billy and Victoria took their conversation outside, so they could speak in private.

Billy cautioned Victoria about the idea of starting a war that would involve their children. He informed her that he had no intention of signing the form. Billy refused to let Victoria send their children away. Victoria essentially confirmed that she'd call it off if Billy convinced Phyllis to give Newman back to her father.

Billy explained to Victoria that he apologized to Nikki. She became collateral damage because of her husband's actions. Victor started this war, and everyone is suddenly up in arms because he was the one who was defeated. Billy told Victoria that her family needed to find a way to move on because it wasn't changing. Chancellor was his.

Billy was disgusted that Victoria would weaponize their children against him. He informed Victoria that he wasn't signing anything. Victoria was certain that he'd eventually come around. She asked him to rethink his position and threatened to call the school. Victoria said, "When I'm through with you, you'll be lucky if they let you chaperone a field trip to the zoo."

Billy ultimately agreed to consider letting the children leave Genoa City so she wouldn't be caught in the crossfire. He asked her to come to him rationally about the situation. This was unlike their previous interactions.

Billy didn't take Chancellor from Nikki. It was Cane. Billy tried to get Victoria to understand that the alternative was for Phyllis to be in charge of the company. He asked her to recognize that he was a much better option. Victoria warned Billy that he brought all of this onto himself.

Inside the restaurant, Jack and Nate had a drink and discussed how the Newmans had lost everything to Phyllis. Jack admitted he had some satisfaction watching everything Victor held dear slip out of his fingers. However, he felt for Nikki. She didn't deserve this, and his brother was responsible for her pain.

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Nate was right. That was precisely how Jack felt about his brother's actions. Billy took the one thing away from Nikki that mattered the most. Jack liked the idea of Billy having a win, but this wasn't the way. Billy could've taken this time to mend things with his ailing mother. Instead, he was desperate to prove to her that she made the wrong decision when she sold Chancellor to Victor.

Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.

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