For months, Mariah (Camryn Grimes) has been keeping a secret on Young and Restless, and it’s had a devastating impact on her marriage to Tessa (Cait Fairbanks). Returning home from a business trip in late April, Mariah confided to her mother, Sharon (Sharon Case), that she’d gotten drunk and done something so terrible that Tessa could never find out about it. As the weeks and months went on, Mariah became more and more withdrawn, ultimately moving out and leaving their daughter, Aria, in Tessa’s care. Tessa has begged her wife over and over to open up and let her help, but Mariah always refused… until now!

Am I Interrupting Something?

Tessa was in the park with Daniel, singing as he played guitar, and they marveled at the song that they wrote together. She wanted them to perform it together, but he insisted he wasn’t ready for that yet, deflecting all her compliments. Things got tense when Daniel commented that the song she wrote was beautiful… like her. Tessa thanked him for saying that, but then Mariah arrived, and she could tell something was seriously wrong.

Mariah asked if she could speak privately with her wife, and Daniel politely made his exit. Mariah noted how close they’d become, and Tessa snarked that she needed friends right now. Mariah allowed that she knew she was a mess. “I’ve been… going to these really… dark places in my mind,” she explained. “Places that I’ve kind of kept locked away for a long, long time.” Tessa suggested that it might be good if it helped her heal. Mariah stammered that she didn’t know, but confided that she thinks she needed to “step it up.”

Tessa wondered what that meant, and Mariah explained that it meant she needed to go away for a little while. Pointing out that she’d already gone away from her and Aria, Tessa asked how much farther she had to go. Mariah revealed that her doctor had suggested a clinic in Boston where she could get more intense therapy. When she added that she knew it would be hard on Aria, Tessa admitted it might be a good idea because Aria could tell that her mother hadn’t really been present lately, and Mariah tearfully insisted she was trying before finally agreeing that it might be better if their daughter didn’t see her like this. “I know I’m a mess. I don’t know how long I’m gonna be away for. I guess… as long as it takes?”

Truth Bomb

Mariah told Tessa she had every right to be mad at her, and Tessa lost her cool. “You’ve been so busy keeping your deep, dark secret,” she spat. “I mean, you won’t check in on me to see how I’m doing with all of this!” When Mariah insisted that she had to take care of herself before she could take care of anyone else, Tessa angrily wondered if that was what her therapist told her — the same therapist who wanted her to run away from her wife and daughter. Mariah grew emotional as she insisted that she was trying to get herself help, and Tessa bitterly complained that she couldn’t be a part of helping her, even though they used to be everything to each other.

Upset, Tessa informed Mariah that while she was away, Tessa would still be here, trying to figure out what her wife had done that was so terrible she would destroy their family over it. “And you know what? It doesn’t even matter that you’re going to Boston,” she added. “Because you are standing right in front of me, and you’re already a million miles away.”

Mariah repeatedly apologized, but Tessa didn’t want her apologies; she wanted her trust. She insisted that whatever her secret was, it couldn’t be as bad as what she was doing right now. As a frustrated Tessa started to walk off, Mariah rushed after her, declaring she’d tell her what happened. The words stuck in her throat, but she finally choked out, “I… I tried to kill a man.” Tessa’s eyes widened in shock as Mariah’s welled up with tears.

Share your thoughts about Mariah’s confession and what you think is coming up next on Y&R in the comments below!