Two funerals. Two heartbreaks. But only one coffin shows up.

This week on The Young and the Restless, the residents of Genoa City prepare to say goodbye to two fallen men: Chance Chancellor, 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed after confronting Carter in a tragic shootout, and Cole Howard, presumed dead in a Chicago hospital after an unexpected medical collapse.

But as the Newmans gather to grieve — candles lit, mourners seated, memories spoken — the air shifts.

Chance’s funeral is a somber, emotional farewell. Sharon clutches her son’s photo, Abby tries to remain composed, and even Nick’s voice cracks as he remembers the man who gave his life protecting the ones he loved. It’s the closure everyone needs… until it isn’t.

Because when the service turns to Cole, the energy in the room changes entirely.

His casket never arrives.

At first, the funeral home staff blames a delivery error. But it quickly becomes clear — Cole’s body is missing. Gone. No tracking number, no delivery delay, just vanished. And with it, the illusion of peace.

For Victoria Newman, who had already buried her emotions once in that sterile Chicago hospital room, the shock is devastating. She watched him die, didn’t she? She felt the moment it ended. But now, all of that certainty unravels into dread.

Claire, too, is shaken. She had begun to rebuild — her bond with her father was fragile, yes, but real. She believed she’d found her place in the Newman family. Now, she’s questioning everything. Was her grief another manipulation? Was she once again just a piece on someone else’s board?

And then the real question emerges: Was Cole’s death ever real at all?

Fans of The Young and the Restless know better than to trust a quiet death, especially one without a body. And Cole Howard’s “passing” has always felt… off. No on-screen final breath. No visible goodbye. Only whispers and hospital walls.

So what if Cole didn’t die?

What if he staged his death — and vanished?

Theories explode. Was he escaping something? Protecting Victoria and Claire from an unseen threat? Or is he involved in something darker — a deception with dangerous implications?

Victor Newman wastes no time. The patriarch is already piecing together a quiet investigation. With Chance gone and now Cole’s disappearance igniting suspicion, Victor calls in Adam, Victoria, and even Nick. This isn’t just a family matter anymore — it’s a full-scale crisis.

And if Cole is alive?

Victor might not punish him. He might respect the move — but only if the reason was strong enough. Because faking your death, abandoning your daughter, and sending shockwaves through the Newman legacy isn’t something that gets swept under the rug. Not even for a Howard.

Meanwhile, Claire spirals again. Every gain she’s made in reclaiming her place in the family threatens to collapse. If Cole willingly left her behind, how does she ever trust again? Was she simply being used? If Cole’s memory is being manipulated — or if he himself is behind it — Claire’s entire emotional journey resets to zero.

But there’s more.

Kyle, Summer, and Holden begin to circle. What role will they play in Claire’s next move? With shifting alliances and emotional fallout looming, her next steps could be shaped by who offers comfort — and who offers control.

And just as the Newmans try to regroup, whispers begin that someone spotted a man matching Cole’s description at a transport hub just outside of Chicago. No cameras. No confirmed identity. But enough to fuel Victor’s suspicion — and Claire’s fading hope.

This isn’t just a mystery.

It’s a war for truth.

In The Young and the Restless, funerals are rarely endings. They are beginnings — dark, dangerous, and drenched in secrets. And this one might be the most explosive of all.

Do you think Cole is really dead — or has he pulled off the most shocking escape in Newman family history?