The corporate fires burning in Genoa City are once again threatening to scorch the Newman family from the inside out. But this time, the fallout is not limited to boardrooms, hostile takeovers, or executive power plays. It has reached the most vulnerable — the children. And in a shocking twist, the escalating feud between Victor Newman and Billy Abbott has set in motion a crisis that could fracture the Newman-Abbott clan for years to come.

What began as a calculated campaign against Billy’s newest professional milestone has now spiraled into an emotional battlefield, pushing Victor’s grandchildren Johnny and Katie Abbott directly into the line of fire. Sources close to the storyline reveal that the tension is so severe Katie ultimately flees Genoa City, unable to bear the pressure and betrayal unfolding around her.

And at the center of the storm? Victor Newman. His decision to punish Johnny — for reasons rooted in power, fear, and generational control — threatens to destroy the very legacy he’s spent decades protecting.

Billy Abbott’s Rise Sparks Victor’s Rage

The trigger for this unfolding catastrophe is Billy Abbott’s latest professional triumph: the imminent launch of Abbott Communications. For most, it’s a crowning achievement—a fresh start for a man who has battled addiction, trauma, and decades of being labeled the “screw-up” of the Abbott family.

But for Victor? It’s a threat.

A threat to Newman Enterprises.
A threat to Victoria’s loyalty.
A threat to the narrative Victor has carefully cultivated about Billy for years.

To Victor, Billy’s newfound stability and independence are more dangerous than his past failures ever were. Failure makes Billy controllable. Success makes him unpredictable.

This is where Victor’s three crushing motives take shape.

REASON #1 — Victor Believes Billy’s Success Could Unravel the Newman Empire

Victor’s paranoia has never been subtle, but this time it’s driving his every move. In Victor’s mind, Abbott Communications represents more than a business venture — it symbolizes Billy declaring himself a legitimate Titan, capable of threatening Newman dominance.

To neutralize the threat, Victor begins orchestrating a quiet but lethal sabotage campaign. Not a hostile takeover — something more sophisticated, more invisible.

He pressures Jill Abbott behind closed doors.
He sends Adam digging for leverage.
He encourages the press to question Billy’s vision.
He destabilizes partnerships before they can form.

It’s sabotage disguised as “protection.”

Protection of Newman Enterprises.
Protection of Victoria from Billy’s “inevitable failure.”
Protection of his grandchildren from yet another Billy disaster.

At least, that’s how Victor justifies it.

But the children aren’t buying it.

Johnny and Katie Begin to See the Monster Behind the Mask

Johnny and Katie Abbott have grown up surrounded by privilege, but also by tension — whispers of rivalries, fractured marriages, battles between Billy and Victoria, and the ever-present shadow of Victor’s influence.

They were young enough to be shielded.

Now they aren’t.

They see Victor corner Billy at family gatherings.
They overhear him undermining their father’s efforts.
They see the strain on Victoria’s face each time Billy’s name comes up.

And then comes the blow they never saw coming: Victor punishes Johnny.

REASON #2 — Victor Punishes Johnny to Force Billy Into Submission

The exact nature of the punishment is still unfolding, but insiders say Victor uses Johnny as an emotional lever — a warning shot aimed directly at Billy.

This is Victor’s oldest tactic:
If you can’t control the parent, control the child.

But this time, Victor underestimates how deeply it will cut.

Johnny is not a pawn. He’s not a business asset. He’s a teenager searching for identity, purpose, and stability. And when Victor punishes him — whether by restricting access, manipulating opportunities, or undermining his independence — Johnny finally sees his grandfather with terrifying clarity.

Not as a protector.
Not as a patriarch.
But as someone hurting the people he claims to love.

It’s the breaking point. And Katie, devastated by Johnny’s turmoil and Victor’s cruelty, refuses to stay silent.

Katie’s Flight: The Choice That Changes Everything

Katie has always been the quieter of the siblings — observant, sensitive, emotionally intelligent. She sees the fractures forming even before the adults do.

And when she realizes Victor is targeting Billy, using Johnny as a weapon, and planning to sabotage Abbott Communications simply because he can, she makes a radical choice:

Katie leaves Genoa City.

Whether she goes to boarding school, to stay with friends, or to escape the suffocating Newman/Abbott drama is still under wraps. But one thing is certain: her departure is not just an exit — it’s a statement. It is the first undeniable sign that Victor’s empire is crumbling from within.

Victoria Newman: Trapped Between Father and Children

As Victor’s maneuvering intensifies, Victoria faces the agony she has spent years avoiding.

She knows her father’s manipulative streak.
She knows his obsession with control.
She knows the damage he has done to her relationships, her judgment, and even her sense of self.

But this? Watching her children recoil from the man they once adored?

It is her greatest nightmare come to life.

Victoria is forced to confront the truth:
Victor isn’t just targeting Billy — he’s targeting her family.

And when the conflict escalates, she must choose whether to defend her father or protect her children.

REASON #3 — Victor Uses Billy as Bait in a Bigger War Against Jack Abbott

This twist hits the Abbott siblings hardest. Sources indicate Victor’s sabotage of Billy isn’t about Billy at all — it’s about Jack. Billy’s new company is nothing more than a distraction, a decoy in Victor’s long-running war with Jack Abbott. When Johnny and Katie piece this together, the betrayal is devastating.

Their father was just collateral damage.
Their family was just another battlefield.
The company Billy built — with passion, growth, and hard-earned maturity — was just bait.

For Johnny, it’s unforgivable.
For Katie, it’s the final straw.

The Generational War Begins

When the dust settles, one truth becomes unavoidable: Johnny and Katie may choose Billy over Victor.

Not in anger.
Not in rebellion.
But because Victor’s cruelty finally crossed a line.

Victor Newman has fought rivals, enemies, competitors, even his own children. But he has never successfully fought the one enemy he cannot buy, manipulate, or intimidate: the disappointed silence of his grandchildren. And this time, that silence may be the blow that finally shatters the Newman legacy forever.