The journey to the south of France promised luxury, but delivers a terrifying test for Genoa City’s elite, as a mysterious mastermind unravels their deepest fears and exposes their vulnerabilities.
Sharon’s Agony: A Haunting Past Returns!
As the luxurious train glides through the French countryside, a suffocating tension grips Genoa City’s most powerful families. Sharon Newman, particularly fragile, finds herself overwhelmed by a vague sense of dread amplified by Aristotle Dumas’s presence. Despite Nick Newman’s (Joshua Morrow) comforting presence, Sharon’s past traumas with poisoning resurface.
When Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) innocently jokes about poisoned drinks, it triggers a cascade of panic in Sharon. Though she initially refuses champagne, a moment of peace with Nick leads her to take a sip. Suddenly, her body rebels: her heart races, breathing quickens, and vision blurs. The terrifying symptoms of poisoning return, plunging her into an uncontrollable panic as Dumas watches, emotionless, from another compartment.
Dumas’s Twisted Game: The Count’s Prophecy!
The train journey is merely the “first test” in Dumas’s grand design. After a tense ride through a giant maze, the guests are transported to the magnificent Dumas Estate – a place of ancient beauty and hidden secrets, meticulously monitored by surveillance cameras. Dumas appears, not in splendor, but with a cold demeanor, revealing the true reason for his return: Lily Winters, the woman he “missed in the past,” the only one who can “save his soul from the darkness of revenge.”
His sweet words waver Lily, promising a future “without pain, without hurt.” But behind this seductive confession, Dumas reveals his burning ambition: to overthrow the Newman family and demands Lily’s help to access sensitive information. Lily is torn between the desire for love and the fear of betraying justice and her old allies. The tension builds to a climax as the entire chandelier system flickers, then plunges the room into darkness, followed by a scream and alarms – a planned “staged drama” to test Lily’s courage.
Cane’s Confession & Lily’s Choice: A New Deal!
Lily is dragged to a secret room, where Dumas drops his social mask and confesses everything: the maze, the party, the cameras, even the blackout – all a test to see if she’d join him in his “final battle.” He presents her with top-secret files on Newman, forcing her to choose: ally with him against Newman, or return to her “old safety.”
However, Lily’s strength surprises Dumas. She doesn’t blindly follow him but proposes a new deal: she will help him, but only if he gives up blind revenge and aims for true justice, bringing the truth to light, and accepting the consequences. Dumas, stunned by her maturity, accepts, giving her full control over her actions. This unexpected respect proves the depth of his love and a “great change” in the man once shrouded in darkness.
Meanwhile, outside the maze, Devon Winters (Bryton James) and other guests thwart an intrusion by Newman’s faction, revealing the truth about the hidden battle between Dumas and Newman. As Lily and Dumas emerge hand-in-hand, a wave of change sweeps through the estate, promising a future of love, courage, and hope for Genoa City.
Newman Family Turmoil & Adam’s Betrayal!
On the train, Victor and Billy verbally spar, with Victor claiming Billy is merely a “pawn” and Billy implying Victor always misjudges his opponents. Nikki senses Victor knows more than he lets on, hinting at a secret that could turn the night upside down.
In another compartment, Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) makes a shocking decision: he decides to break his father’s plans, choosing to retreat and abandon the pre-arranged strategy. This unexpected betrayal creates a massive hole in Victor’s overarching scheme, pushing everything out of control and into an unpredictable situation.
As the train speeds towards the unknown, and Sharon fights for her life, Dumas’s voice booms over the intercom, quoting The Count of Monte Cristo: “Wait and hope.” What awaits them at his mountaintop estate is a mystery, promising a new series of events where characters face their limits and pay the price for their past.