The Young and the Restless Recap, March 23, 2026: Riza pulls a gun on Adam

On the Monday, March 23, 2026, episode of The Young and the Restless, Daniel convinced Tessa to reach out to Mariah, Billy and Chelsea squared off, and Nick popped pills in Vegas.

What happened on The Young and the Restless

Cricket, Sharon, and Mariah on Y&R | Image: JPI

Sharon met Christine at the Athletic Club to talk about Mariah’s meeting with the judge. Sharon voiced surprise that Christine hadn’t wanted Mariah to be there with them. Christine explained that she’d wanted to meet with Sharon alone because she needed help with Mariah, who wasn’t cooperating with the plea deal Christine had negotiated.

Sharon lamented that Mariah thought she deserved prison time, but prison would only make things worse when Mariah needed treatment. Christine relayed that Mariah didn’t seem to care about the consequences and could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if she didn’t take the deal. Sharon groaned that she’d tried to talk to Mariah, but her daughter was broken and fragile, and she didn’t want to push too hard.

Christine worried that Mariah would make a decision she’d regret for the rest of her life, and they didn’t have much time. Sharon was afraid Mariah would shut down completely under pressure. Christine inquired about therapy, and Sharon shared that she hadn’t seen any improvement. Christine advised Sharon to stop tiptoeing around Mariah and tell her daughter how she really felt.

Mariah's at a crossroads

Mariah is at a low point in her life on Y&R | Image: CBS

At the Chancellor Park Café, Mariah sat alone at a table. Daniel spied her and hesitated before approaching. They awkwardly greeted one another, and Mariah inquired about Tessa and Aria. Daniel vaguely replied that they were fine, and Mariah inquired whether he and Tessa were still together. He asked what she meant, and she clarified that the two were dating. Daniel insisted that he and Tessa were friends.

Mariah explained that she needed to know if Tessa had moved on because she had to move on, too. Daniel encouraged Mariah to ask Tessa, but Mariah guessed that he was just afraid to tell her the truth. Mariah revealed that she intended to plead guilty and accept whatever punishment she was given, since she deserved to go to prison for a long time. She requested that he look out for Tessa and Aria while she was gone.

Daniel swore that it wasn’t what Mariah thought between him and Tessa, and he recounted that Tessa had helped him through dealing with Heather’s death. He insisted that Tessa cared about Mariah and would help her if Mariah let her. Mariah declared that she was fine with Daniel and Tessa being more than just friends, and it was time for everyone to move on. Daniel thought Mariah was trying hard to convince him or herself but that she didn’t really believe it.

Mariah stressed that there was no going back for her and Tessa, and she didn’t want to repair their marriage. Daniel pressed to know if Mariah still loved Tessa, but a defensive Mariah didn’t see how it mattered. Daniel contended that he’d lost years with Heather because he’d been too stupid and stubborn to admit how much he’d needed her. He argued that Mariah still had a chance to be with Tessa, and he knew Mariah wouldn’t just throw that gift away.

Daniel insisted that it was killing Tessa not to help Mariah, and she saw the answer to his question in Mariah’s heart – even though it would break his. Mariah rhetorically asked herself what she’d done. “Nothing that can’t be undone,” Daniel replied. Mariah sobbed that she loved and missed her family, and it was killing her not to be with them. Daniel pulled her into his arms as she broke down in tears.

Daniel urged Mariah to let everything out because holding it in would kill her. He implored her to take the first step to get her family back by reaching out to them. Mariah cried that Tessa deserved to be with someone other than her, and Aria was young and would adapt to a life without her. Mariah whimpered that she shouldn’t be talking to Daniel, and she rushed off over his protests. Daniel left a message for someone, urgently asking to meet.

Tessa met Daniel at the café, and he informed her that Mariah had just left after finally admitting that she felt lost without Tessa and Aria. Tessa was skeptical, but Daniel was certain it was tearing Mariah apart and that she needed her family more than ever. Tessa incredulously asked if he wanted her to give Mariah another chance.

Daniel conceded that having Tessa in his life had changed everything, but he felt that she and Mariah still had a deep love and connection. He continued that it couldn’t be about him and Tessa until she tried to see if her marriage could be saved, and he wouldn’t stand in her way of being with the person she loved most in the world. Daniel mused that nothing would make him happier if it turned out to be him, but Tessa had to know in her heart what and who she really wanted.

Finding hope for Mariah

Cricket and Sharon want to help Mariah on Y&R | Image: JPI

Sharon and Christine entered Crimson Lights and encountered a tearful Mariah. Sharon mentioned that she and Christine had been discussing Mariah’s case, and Mariah sourly cited attorney-client privilege. Mariah firmly stated that she’d agreed to plead guilty because she was. Sharon referred to the deal, but Mariah snapped that she didn’t deserve it and stormed off to the patio.

Sharon and Christine followed Mariah and insisted that taking a chance on a jury trial would be a big mistake when the deal Christine had brokered would get Mariah the help she needed. Christine advised that it was ultimately Mariah’s call. Mariah received a text message from Tessa, asking if they could meet.

Chelsea and Billy reconnect

Billy and Chelsea caught up at Society on Y&R | Image: JPI

At Society, Chelsea ended a call with Connor as she ran into Billy, and she said she was sorry Victor had taken Chancellor back. Billy admitted that it helped having Sally in his corner because she’d made him see that maybe there were better dreams to have. He pledged to be there in the moment while he figured out the future, since nothing good came from the past. Chelsea looked perplexed.

Chelsea hoped Billy had let go of fighting Victor for Chancellor because Billy always lost the fight. Billy defended that he’d never played as dirty as Victor, and he cited how Victor had kidnapped Jack to use him as leverage to get Chancellor back. Billy found solace in knowing Victor had only gotten back Katherine’s legacy instead of his own, so any victory Victor felt was hollow. Billy cheered that the Newmans had finally lost.

At the bar, Billy spoke with Sally on the phone. He acknowledged that she was busy folding her new acquisition into her company, and they made plans to meet for lunch. Billy returned to Chelsea’s table and apologized. Chelsea mentioned that she’d overheard his side of the call, and she reprimanded him for taking the first opportunity to rub her face in losing Newman Media. Chelsea huffed that everyone had lost something in the nightmare – especially the Newmans, and she was one of them.

Billy accused Chelsea of reverting to the conniving con he’d met years earlier. Billy spat that Jack hadn’t deserved to be a pawn in the war Victor had started, and he was happy Victor had lost. Billy added that Adam had also deserved it after everything Adam had taken from him. Chelsea asserted that if Billy wanted a fight, it wouldn’t be with Adam but with her.

Chelsea barked that she was sick of Billy attacking the man she loved. He reminded her that she’d once defended him to Adam. Chelsea retorted that nothing would ever justify what he and Phyllis had stolen. Chelsea blurted out that Adam was risking everything to help his brother, while Billy was moping around town after his latest failure. She ordered Billy to stop feeling sorry for himself.

Chelsea quickly admitted that she’d been out of line, and Billy assured her it was okay. He assumed Nick and Adam were planning to get Newman back, and he offered to help. Chelsea ordered Billy to stop his obsession with Newman and focus on his own life. She walked away.

Adam is up in arms

Riza wants Adam's arms up in the air on Y&R | Image: JPI

In a Las Vegas hotel room, Adam left another message for Riza. Nick testily questioned whether she ever answered her phone. Nick snapped that they weren’t there to hang out in a hotel room, and he was determined to find Matt that day. Adam warned that if he pushed Riza too hard, they could lose her, and the trip would be for nothing. Nick remained agitated, and Adam wondered if his brother’s leg was bothering him.

Nick begrudgingly agreed to wait and see what happened with Riza. Adam confided that he was anxious about meeting her, and Nick pointed out that his brother could go home whenever he wanted. Adam refused to back out, but Nick asked if being there had dredged up memories. Adam replied that he remembered enough to know it would be hard seeing Riza again.

Nick testily questioned why Adam was forcing himself to remember things when he didn’t need to be there. Adam lectured that Nick had been an “ass” ever since Adam had agreed to help. Adam recognized that he didn’t know how he’d react when he saw Riza again, but he was prepared to deal with the darkness if it helped find Matt and end the threat to the people Adam cared about – including Nick.

Adam answered a call from Riza and guessed she’d been surprised to hear from him. He claimed that he’d been passing through Vegas and hoped they could get together to talk about old times. He agreed to her request to meet in person, and he promised he was alone. He offered to send a text message with his location.

Adam informed Nick that Riza would be there in 15 minutes. Adam sensed that she knew something was up, and Nick worried that their plan would blow up if she warned Matt. Adam reasoned that Matt didn’t know about Adam’s connection to Riza, and Riza would show up because she was curious about what was going on. Nick prepared to make himself scarce.

Adam made Nick promise he wouldn’t look for Matt on his own. Nick prepared to take a walk, and Adam told him to take it easy on the leg. Nick headed out, and Adam poured himself a drink. Nick boarded the elevator and repeatedly pressed the buttons. He pulled out a baggie of fentanyl and swallowed a pill.

Adam heard a knock at the door, and he opened it to Riza. “Hello, Spider,” she greeted, and he invited her in. He turned to face her and found her pointing a gun at him.

Watch full episodes of The Young and the Restless on CBS or stream on Paramount Plus.