In the heart of Genoa City, tensions ran high as Jack Abbott faced a betrayal that cut deeper than any business rivalry. His son, Kyle Abbott, had aligned himself with Victor Newman, the very man determined to bring down the Abbott legacy. Jack could hardly believe that Kyle, his own flesh and blood, would reveal Jabot’s secrets to their greatest enemy. The pain and anger were almost too much to bear.

Jack stormed into Kyle’s office at Newman Enterprises, his face a mask of fury. “Kyle, we need to talk now,” Jack demanded. Kyle looked up from his desk, a mixture of defiance and guilt in his eyes. “What is it, Dad?” Jack grabbed his arm, pulling him out of the office and towards the door. “We’re going home to talk about this. This is not the place.”

The drive back to the Abbott Mansion was silent, the air thick with unspoken words. Once inside, the dam of Jack’s restraint broke. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You’ve handed Victor the keys to destroy everything we’ve built!” Kyle’s eyes flashed with anger. “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done because of how you and Diane treated me! You think I’m stupid? You think I don’t know how you really feel about me?”

Jack was taken aback, his anger momentarily overshadowed by confusion. “What are you talking about, Kyle? This has nothing to do with Diane. This is about you betraying your family.” Kyle’s voice rose, filled with bitterness. “I’ve only been trying to build something for myself, something that’s mine. I’m working on developing Victor’s project, not interfering in your war with him.”

Jack shook his head, despair creeping into his voice. “Don’t you see, Kyle? Victor doesn’t care about you or your project. He’s using you to get to me. You’re just a pawn in his game.” Kyle’s resolve hardened. “I’m done listening to you, Dad. You and Diane never believed in me. It’s too late now.”

Jack’s heart ached at the sight of his son’s hardened expression. Desperation took over as he tried to reach Kyle. “Son, you’re making a mistake. Victor is manipulating you just like he does with everyone. Come back to Jabot. We can work through this together.” Kyle’s eyes were cold, his voice steady. “No, Dad. I’m staying with Victor. At least he sees my potential.”

The words were like a knife to Jack’s heart. In a moment of uncontrollable emotion, he lashed out, slapping Kyle across the face. The sound echoed in the room, a shocking punctuation to the heated argument. Kyle staggered back, his hand flying to his cheek. The shock quickly turned to fury. “You just proved my point, Dad. I’m done with you.”

Jack’s eyes widened in horror at what he’d done. “Kyle, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…” But it was too late. Kyle’s hatred was ignited, a smoldering ember now fanned into a raging fire. He turned on his heel and stormed out, leaving Jack standing in the wreckage of their relationship.

Jack collapsed onto the couch, his head in his hands. How had it come to this? How had he lost his son to Victor Newman of all people? The weight of his failure pressed down on him, heavier than anything he’d ever faced in business. He knew that mending his relationship with Kyle would be the hardest battle he’d ever fought, but he couldn’t give up. Jack Abbott was many things, but he was not a quitter, especially when it came to his family.

As days turned into weeks, Jack reached out to Kyle repeatedly, only to be met with silence or cold rejection. He sought advice from friends, from family, anyone who might have a solution. But the more he tried, the more distant Kyle became. Meanwhile, Victor watched with a satisfied smirk as the Abbott family unraveled. His plan was working perfectly. Kyle was firmly in his grasp, and Jack was too distracted by personal turmoil to mount any effective resistance.

Victor met with Kyle often, feeding his ego and deepening the wedge between him and Jack. “You’re doing great, Kyle. Together we can build something incredible.” Kyle nodded, but a part of him still felt uneasy. Was he truly building something of his own, or was he merely a tool in Victor’s grand scheme? Doubts gnawed at him, but his anger towards Jack kept them at bay.

Jack, on the other hand, was relentless in his efforts to win back his son. He started showing up at Kyle’s events, offering support from a distance, trying to show that he cared. He sent messages of encouragement, reminders of their past, and apologies for his mistakes. One evening, Jack decided to make one final attempt. He invited Kyle to dinner at their family home. To his surprise, Kyle accepted.

As they sat down, the atmosphere was tense but hopeful. Jack spoke first, his voice filled with sincerity. “Kyle, I know I’ve made mistakes. I know I’ve hurt you. But I love you, son, more than anything. I want to fix this.” Kyle looked at his father, the walls around his heart trembling slightly. “Dad, it’s not that simple. You can’t just erase the past.”