In the world of The Young and the Restless, Jack Abbott faces one of the
darkest revelations of his life. Sitting alone in his office at the Abbott mansion,
Jack is enveloped by silence and shadows, feeling the weight of uncertainty
about his son Kyle’s true parentage. Diane Jenkins, Kyle’s mother, has always seemed evasive when the topic came up, sparking suspicion in Jack’s mind. Her nervous glances and quick changes in subject have only fueled his belief that she’s hiding something monumental about Kyle’s paternity.
The nagging question eats away at Jack, prompting him to take matters into his own hands. Unable to confide in anyone and feeling isolated, Jack decides to secretly conduct a DNA test to get the truth once and for all. Late one evening, he quietly retrieves a hair sample from Kyle’s room and sends it, along with his own, to a private lab under an alias, aiming to avoid leaks or misunderstandings.
The following days are filled with tension. Each ring of the phone and every delivery causes Jack’s heart to pound as he anxiously awaits the results. When the long-awaited envelope finally arrives, his hands tremble as he opens it. His world shatters as he reads the result: the probability of paternity is 0%. Kyle is not his biological son.
The realization rocks Jack to his core. Memories of raising Kyle flood his mind—their fishing trips, heart-to-heart talks, and the bond they shared as father and son. This devastating discovery drags up memories of his past as well, when he learned he wasn’t biologically related to his mother, Dina. Jack had managed to piece his identity back together after that revelation, but this—losing Kyle as his son—feels unbearable.
Questions swirl as Jack struggles to process the truth. Who is Kyle’s real father? Has Diane known all along, and has their entire relationship been based on a lie? Despite his anger, Jack knows confronting Diane without direct evidence would only lead to more evasion. So, he decides on a careful approach.
The next evening, Jack invites Diane over under the pretense of discussing family matters. As they sit in the dimly lit living room, tension thickens. “I’ve been thinking a lot about our past and about Kyle,” he says, his voice low but steady. Diane appears uneasy and asks if something is wrong. Meeting her gaze directly, Jack says, “I can’t shake the feeling there’s something you’re not telling me about Kyle’s paternity.”
Diane’s composure falters as she denies his accusation, insisting Kyle is his son. But Jack quietly places the DNA test results on the coffee table. Diane’s face pales as she realizes the truth is out. “You had a DNA test done?” she asks, her voice shaking. “I had to know,” Jack replies firmly. Diane’s eyes fill with tears, and she admits she was scared of telling him, afraid of the fallout.
As Jack demands the truth, Diane reveals the shocking answer: Kyle’s biological father is Victor Newman, Jack’s longtime rival. The revelation sends Jack reeling. Victor—the man who has been a thorn in Jack’s side for decades—turns out to be Kyle’s father. It’s a blow almost too painful to bear.
Jack’s shock turns to anger as he realizes Diane kept this secret from both of them. He presses her, demanding why she chose to hide Kyle’s true parentage. Diane explains that it was a complicated time in her life, and that she chose to believe Kyle was Jack’s because it felt easier.
“Easier for whom?” Jack asks, his voice tinged with resentment. “Certainly not for Kyle or for me. You robbed us of the truth.”
Diane, pleading for understanding, tries to apologize, saying she never intended to hurt him. But Jack, lost in a mix of betrayal and heartbreak, is left grappling with the staggering implications. Not only has he been deceived about his own son, but now he must face the reality that Victor Newman is unwittingly entangled in this family secret. Jack finally asks, “Does Kyle know?” Diane admits she hasn’t told him, leaving Jack to ponder how this revelation will impact everyone involved.