Claire’s gaze fixed on the photograph of Summer and Kyle locked in a passionate kiss, a searing image that ignited a storm of jealousy and resentment within her. Each time she looked at their entwined forms, a surge of fury bubbled up inside, making it impossible to ignore the truth she had tried to deny. Kyle Abbott, whom she had believed to be different, was revealed to be nothing more than a deceitful liar who had toyed with her emotions. The photograph shattered Claire’s illusions and left her feeling humiliated, enraged, and utterly betrayed.
The realization that Kyle had been playing her all along was like a gut punch. For a brief moment, Claire’s thoughts spiraled into chaos. How could she have been so naive? The fire of vengeance ignited within her, and all her anger now had a singular focus: Kyle Abbott. Once, she had contemplated abandoning her allegiance to Victor and joining forces with Kyle at Jabot. The idea of working alongside him, perhaps even by his side, had once seemed appealing, but now those days were long gone. The kiss she had witnessed made it crystal clear—Kyle was the enemy, and Claire had no intention of showing him any mercy.
Determined not to succumb to self-pity or retreat when cornered, Claire embraced her pain as the fuel for her revenge. She knew exactly what had to be done, and her path was set. Instead of wallowing in her personal grievances, Claire decided to stand by the Newman family, where she truly belonged. Victor Newman, the patriarch and mastermind, had always seen potential in her that others overlooked. He had mentored her, and now she was prepared to use everything he had taught her to dismantle Kyle and his world.
The next morning, Claire stormed into Victor’s office, her eyes blazing with determination. She laid her proposal on the table: “Fire Kyle Abbott. Put me in charge of Gade. I’ll take down Jabot myself.” Victor raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her sudden boldness. He had always sensed a fierce quality within her, but this new level of intensity was unexpected. Claire’s fire and intellect were formidable, and Victor felt a surge of pride seeing her step into her power.
“You want Kyle out?” Victor mused, leaning back in his chair and studying her carefully. “And you think you can lead Gade against Jabot?”
Claire’s voice was steady and resolute as she replied, “I don’t think, Victor. I know. Kyle thinks he’s untouchable, but I’ll prove him wrong. He’ll regret ever crossing me.”
Victor’s eyes sparkled with approval. He enjoyed a good fight, and seeing Claire embrace her inner strength was more satisfying than he had anticipated. “You’ve got a lot of fire in you,” he said with a smirk. “That’s exactly what I like to see. Kyle has been getting too comfortable at Jabot. Perhaps it’s time someone reminded him that no one is invincible.”
Victor relished the idea of using Claire as a weapon against Jabot and against Kyle Abbott, Jack Abbott’s arrogant son. Victor had never fully trusted Kyle, and this was the perfect opportunity to strip him of his confidence. Claire could be the key to taking down Jabot once and for all. With Victor’s approval secured, Claire’s mind raced ahead, plotting her next moves. Taking control of Gade would be the first step in her master plan. She wasn’t just interested in business dominance; she wanted Kyle to feel every ounce of the pain he had inflicted upon her.
Gade would rise to not only outshine Jabot but to crush it entirely under her leadership. With Victor by her side, Claire knew she had the resources to make it happen. Yet her motivations ran deeper than personal vengeance. There was a darkness within her, a fierce ruthlessness inherited from her adoptive mother, Jordan. Jordan had instilled in Claire a cold, calculating edge, a trait that allowed her to do what others could not.
Claire had always sought Jordan’s approval, and now she was determined to prove herself worthy. She would take everything from Kyle and, in doing so, earn the respect she had craved all her life. As Claire’s plans unfolded, Summer and Kyle remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing on the horizon. Their rekindled romance was a glimmer of hope for them, a chance to reconnect and rebuild what they had lost. But this was Genoa City, where peace was fleeting, and soon enough, they would face the wrath of Claire—a woman scorned with the power of the Newman Empire behind her. Summer, ever perceptive, couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to go horribly wrong, and as her relationship with Kyle deepened, so did her unease.
