Adam Newman and Billy Abbott are back at it again on The Young and the Restless, and this time the drama is layered with business, betrayal, and a father pulling the strings. Adam has just stepped back into Newman Media, but it’s not just about a job — it’s about Victor’s personal war. Victor wants Billy taken down, and he’s chosen Adam to do it.
The bad blood between Adam and Billy has always been personal, but now it’s turning into a calculated move under Victor’s control. Adam, however, isn’t throwing punches right away. He’s stalling, mostly because of Chelsea. She’s working with him again and is already uneasy about Victor using him.
The tension grew even more after Adam and Chelsea’s past affair blew up their relationships with Sally and Billy on The Young and the Restless. Now that Billy and Sally are teaming up, old wounds are reopened, and Victor is using that to fuel his plan.
Adam claims he’s handling it, but he’s clearly torn between loyalty to his father, love for Chelsea, and his own need for control. What happens next will depend on whether Adam sticks to Victor’s orders or flips the script and does what’s right for himself, not the Newmans.
Exploring the plot dynamics between Adam Newman and Billy Abbott in The Young and the Restless

The tension between Adam Newman and Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless is heating up again, but this time it’s being driven more by outside forces than either of them would probably admit. At the center of it all is Victor Newman, who has made it clear that he sees Billy as a threat to Newman Media and is determined to take him down.
Rather than do it himself, Victor has put Adam in the middle of it. Adam recently returned to Newman Media, but this job didn’t come without conditions. Victor is now pushing him to launch a campaign against Billy, using the company’s power to chip away at his reputation and business standing.
Adam hasn’t made a direct move yet. That’s been bothering Victor, who expected Adam to act quickly and without hesitation. In a recent scene, Victor asks Adam why he hasn’t gone after Billy.
Adam plays it cool and tells him he has it under control. But his hesitation isn’t about strategy—it’s personal. Chelsea is back working with him at Newman Media, and she’s already uncomfortable with the idea of Victor using Adam for his own purposes. She knows this isn’t just about business. It’s about old grudges, and she doesn’t want Adam dragged into that again.
Chelsea’s concern also has deeper roots. The history between the four of them—Adam, Chelsea, Billy, and Sally—is messy. Adam and Chelsea’s affair destroyed their relationship with Sally and Billy. Now that Sally and Billy are working together, the lines have blurred again.
Victor is trying to exploit that past, hoping the emotional damage will make Adam more willing to go after Billy. But Adam’s slower approach shows he’s thinking it through instead of reacting on impulse. He’s not fully resisting his father, but he’s not charging forward either.
Meanwhile, Billy isn’t entirely unaware that something’s off. He’s suspicious of Adam’s new role at Newman Media and doesn’t trust the quiet. Billy knows how Victor operates, and he’s keeping one eye on Adam even if nothing has happened yet.
Sally, now closer to Billy both personally and professionally, may also be a factor that complicates Adam’s judgment. If Adam goes through with Victor’s plan, he’ll risk pushing Chelsea away again, possibly stirring up a new mess with Sally.

What’s also worth watching is how Adam’s relationship with Victor will shift depending on what he chooses. He’s constantly chasing approval from his father, even when he says otherwise. But if Chelsea draws a hard line and walks away, that dynamic could shift again.
In The Young and the Restless, Victor’s plan isn’t just a power play against Billy. It’s a test to see how far Adam is willing to go. So far, Adam is buying time. He hasn’t said no. He hasn’t said yes. But the clock is ticking, and both Billy and Victor are waiting to see which direction he’ll take.
Watch The Young and the Restless on CBS.