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Here's your recap for The Young and the Restless episode that aired on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, when Matt and Phyllis got intimate in her hotel suite, Traci volunteered to visit Martin to help Diane, while Victoria shared an intimate secret with Kyle.
The Welcome Matt
Matt was surprised to hear Phyllis say that she was going to stop him from leaving town, as Matt said that he was ready to leave. He said there was nothing left in Genoa City for him. Then, Phyllis grabbed Matt and kissed him. Nick walked into the GCAC and saw the smooch.
"You are welcome," Phyllis quipped after the kiss, adding she didn't know why she did it. Matt said it was better than being hit over the head. Matt reminded Phyllis that they had discussed their connection when he was a bargaining chip for her. Then, Nick interrupted them and asked Phyllis if she thought Matt deserved a kiss goodbye.
Phyllis chided Nick for interrupting her and Matt's private conversation. She threw up in Nick's face that she and Matt saved Nick's life. Nick insisted that Matt leave town, and he wanted him gone forever.
Phyllis professed that Matt was not that guy anymore. She said that Nick didn't get to chose whom Phyllis had in her life. She didn't want Nick's favors. "He's not that Matt anymore," Phyllis said about Matt.
Matt said that he was leaving town. Phyllis told him that he didn't have to. She pointed out that if the Newmans got to pick and choose who stayed in Genoa City, then she would have been gone long ago. Phyllis took Matt by the arm and left to have a private conversation.
Brothers & Sisters
Nick took a table at the GCAC and was soon joined by Victoria. Vicki mentioned that their mom, Nikki, was scared about getting her bandages off. Nick said Nikki would ask what's next if she didn't get her vision back. Vicki feared what would happen if Nikki got bad news and then decided to have a drink. Nick said that he was an addict, too. Vicki didn't see her brother that way.
Nick said that he was supposed to attend 90 meetings in 90 days as part of his sobriety plan. He said he was on track. Vicki said he didn't look fine when she walked in. Vicki quipped that Phyllis and Matt deserve each other. Nick suggested to his sister that she not try to make any sense out of it.
Nick said that Phyllis and Matt were making out like a couple of teenagers. Vicki said that Phyllis could hold a master class in how to ruin your life. Nick feared that if Phyllis didn't have Daniel's and Summer's support, then he wasn't sure what could happen. Vicki asked her brother if he still had feelings for his ex. Nick said that wasn't the case, but he did worry about Matt.
Welcome Home, Jack
Meanwhile, Jack arrived home with Diane by his side. He took a peek into the living room, where Patty stabbed him. Diane took Jack by the arm and guided him back into the living room. Jack asked Diane to sit next to him. They smooched and cuddled. Both agreed it was a beautiful dream. Jack told Diane not to spoil the mood by mentioning Patty's name.
Kyle interrupted his parents. Diane wondered where Kyle had been. He said he'd gone to see Patty. Kyle said that he'd gone to Patty to get her to state that Victor was behind her latest attack on the Abbotts. Jack and Diane were very concerned that their son went to see Patty.
Kyle wondered if Patty could be transferred to a psychiatric hospital and not prison. Diane said if Kyle wanted to help, then he should focus on finding Dr. Laurence Markham.
Diane said that she didn't want to get into Markham's actions while Jack was in the hospital. A teary-eyed Diane recounted her ordeal with Markham, calling his "therapy" calm and professional -- except that the home had bars on the windows. Diane added that Patty must have ordered Markham to get Diane to forget about Jack by tapping into some genuine doubt she had about Jack.
Diane said that it was almost as if Markham were "courting" her. She played along to plan her escape. Kyle pointed out that Markham seemed heartbroken when he realized Diane had tricked him. Diane feared that Markham was lurking, waiting to take his revenge. Kyle and Jack said that they'd have to go through them. Diane feared that Markham would simply deny his actions.
Diane hoped that the police would have found Markham. Kyle suggested that Patty had ratted out Markham. Diane said the authorities might not believe her. Diane feared that Markham would eliminate Kyle and Diane to clear his own conscience. Diane pointed out that Markham was not going to go away quietly.
Kyle said that he'd never heard his mother talk about anyone the way that she was talking about Markham. She vowed to find him herself. Jack said that nobody flies solo in this family, as Jack learned that the hard way. Diane said that Markham had some signed books by Alan Laurent -- but Diane thinks that they were really by his brother, Martin. Diane says they will find Markham through Martin.
Diane revealed that she'd done some research. She believes that Martin and Laurence are cut from the same cloth. Diane said that she needed to pay a visit to Martin Laurent. Traci entered and couldn't believe her ears.
Traci Wants to Help
Diane apologized to Traci for not talking about this first. Traci said to forget about that. She wanted to know why she wanted to talk to Martin. Diane said she believed that there was a connection between Martin and Laurence. Traci agreed with Jack that Martin would never talk to Diane -- but he might talk to Traci. She said that after losing her daughter Colleen, her betrayal by Martin was the worst thing that had ever happened to her.
"I have to do this for the family and for myself," Traci stated. Jack got up to say he was contacting Det. Burrow so that Traci could talk to Martin.
Diane asked Traci if she could really go through with it. She said she was almost looking forward to looking into the face of that maniac! Traci beat herself up for falling for Martin, but Diane said that wasn't her fault. Diane said that rage was warranted in Traci's case, even healthy.
Traci said that if Martin knows where Markham is hiding, then she has a way of getting info out of him. Traci revealed to Diane that Martin had been sending her letters to her. The notes were filled with remorse, and he wanted to make things right. Traci felt that was the way into his sick mind.
Jack reentered and said that Det. Burrow was setting up a video call between Traci and Martin. "I will be ready," Traci stated.
Victoria's Secrets
Kyle approached Vicki, now alone, at her table. He asked if Nick was okay. Vicki quipped that in her family, that was a trick question. Kyle accepted Vicki's invitation to have a drink, provided that they did not talk about their families. Kyle broke the ice with Vicki by suggesting they share something about themselves. Vicki said that she wears a Jabot perfume and has for years -- even when she worked at Brash & Sassy.
Nick Interrupts Matt and Phyllis Getting Close
In Phyllis's room at the GCAC, Matt reminded Phyllis that she clobbered him over the head and trussed him up like a Christmas turkey. Matt wondered why Phyllis was being so agreeable. He questioned her motives. Phyllis said that she had genuine remorse for her actions and, like Matt, she was asking for forgiveness.
Matt gave Phyllis his forgiveness, but he was still leaving town. He asked her for some of her money. She said no. Phyllis said that at least Matt had a job with Victor. Matt said that Victor wasn't happy about Matt wanting to leave town. Phyllis, who told Matt to forget about what she said earlier about not worrying about the Newmans, said that Victor could send Matt to prison.
Matt shared his lame plan with Phyllis to escape Victor's control. Phyllis told Matt that he wasn't the type of guy she normally went for. She added that they were two peas of the same pod. Phyllis added that she wanted company.
Phyllis said that her life has been tough, but she wasn't going to go after global empires any longer. She just wanted her family to be proud, and she just wanted a friend. Matt wondered if that's where he came in. Then, Matt kissed Phyllis, and she kissed him back. He unzipped her dress. She unbuttoned his shirt.
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Then, they heard a pounding on their door. It was Nick, demanding that Phyllis open the door.
Will Phyllis and Matt open the door to Nick? Will Traci be able to maneuver Martin into giving her the info she wants on Laurence Markham? Sound off in the comments below!
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