Y&R Shocker: Cole’s Real Father Revealed — Victor Confronts His Worst Enemy Yet
In the dramatic world of The Young and the Restless, few secrets have the power to detonate like the latest bombshell dropped on Genoa City. Cole Howard, long believed to be the son of Victor Newman and Eve Howard, finds his entire identity shattered when the truth comes out — his biological father is not the powerful Newman patriarch, but Marvin Oakley, a criminal with a long, dark history. As secrets emerge and reputations crumble, this revelation sparks a chain reaction that may destroy the Newman family from the inside. The emotional stakes have never been higher, and every moment now teeters on the edge of collapse as Victor is forced to confront his most hated enemy — and the possibility that the man he once called “son” is bound by blood to the monster who nearly destroyed him.
The stunning discovery begins with a quiet investigation into an unrelated case — the reinvestigation of Mariah Copeland’s mysterious trauma — but quickly spirals into chaos when DNA evidence raises questions about Cole’s paternity. For decades, Victor believed Eve’s story: that Cole was the product of their brief affair. But hidden away in Eve’s belongings was a letter — one Victor had never seen — from Marvin Oakley himself, claiming Cole as his son. The horrifying realization dawns on Victor: he has unknowingly raised the child of the very man who tore apart his world. With Eve long dead and unable to answer for her lies, the burden of truth falls squarely on Victor’s shoulders — and the consequences threaten to destroy everything he’s worked to build.
Cole, meanwhile, is left reeling from the revelation. For years, he built a life rooted in the belief that he was part of the Newman dynasty. Now, with his world upended, he is haunted by the sins of a father he never knew — a man with a past stained by assault, manipulation, and criminal conspiracies. Rumors swirl through Genoa City about Cole’s ties to Marvin, tarnishing his reputation and jeopardizing his career. Even worse, suspicion brews over whether Cole himself was involved in Mariah’s past torment, as whispers about mental abuse and inappropriate behavior resurface. Every glance, every whispered conversation threatens to unravel him further, and Cole finds himself spiraling into a psychological war between who he is — and who the world now sees him to be. 
But the story doesn’t stop with scandal. Victor, shaken and enraged, decides to confront Marvin Oakley in person. Their tense meeting is nothing short of explosive. Marvin, cold and calculating, doesn’t deny the paternity — instead, he taunts Victor with the knowledge, proclaiming that Cole is now the key to seizing power and exacting revenge on the Newman empire. “He’s mine,” Marvin hisses. “And he’ll bring down everything you’ve ever built.” For Victor, this is not just a personal betrayal — it’s a declaration of war. As Marvin’s shadowy criminal organization begins to tighten its grip on the family, Victor races against time to protect his legacy. But can he fight off an enemy who now has a blood tie to his inner circle?
At the heart of this storm stands Cole, torn between the man who raised him and the father he never asked for. With Mariah facing a terminal illness and needing an organ transplant, the stakes are raised even higher. In a shocking twist, Marvin may be the only match capable of saving her life — forcing Cole to confront an impossible decision: reach out to the man he despises to save someone he cares for, or let Marvin’s sins dictate the fate of another. As loyalties shift, relationships crack, and buried truths claw their way to the surface, one thing is clear — nothing in Genoa City will ever be the same. This is no longer just a story of family and betrayal. It’s a war for identity, legacy, and the soul of the Newman name. And for Cole, the fight has only just begun.
