The return of Cole to Genoa City was expected to be a beautiful moment of healing for Victoria and a long-lost daughter, Clare—now revealed as Eve Nicole. The reunion with Cole brought a wave of hope that the fractured family might finally find peace. With Victoria, Cole, and Clare together, and with Victoria’s other children accepting the newfound unity, the future looked promising. However, the dream was short-lived. In a shocking and abrupt twist, Cole died offscreen, without the buildup or emotional weight viewers anticipated. His death, seemingly inserted into the plot without proper narrative support, left fans confused and disappointed. Many questioned why the writers brought him back just to eliminate him so quickly. The reunion that could have brought lasting emotional impact became a wasted opportunity. Viewers were left wondering whether Cole’s death was a purposeful twist or a missed chance to fully explore redemption and family. The emotional potential was vast, but the payoff fell flat.

Cole’s death sparked widespread criticism, particularly for how little weight it carried in the storyline. In a show known for dramatic farewells and powerful confrontations, his demise lacked romance, gravity, or narrative depth. His passing occurred offscreen, depriving fans of a meaningful goodbye between him and Victoria or their daughter Clare. Even more frustrating, the storyline had been carefully setting up his return as a redemptive arc—one that would allow Victoria to find lasting happiness. Instead, his exit felt like an afterthought. If the writers had no intention of using Cole for a longer arc, it might have made more sense to keep him offscreen entirely. With Cole’s passing, the groundwork laid for a hopeful future was instantly undone. Victoria’s dreams of a united family shattered again, with little explanation as to why it all unraveled so suddenly. Fans were left grieving not only the character’s death but also the lost potential of a story that could have deeply resonated.

The aftermath of Cole’s death rippled through Genoa City. Victoria was thrust back into emotional turmoil, despite a budding romance with Nate that had already been building before Cole’s return. Meanwhile, Clare’s relationship with Holden deepened, especially after they shared a vulnerable moment during a panic attack. Still, these developments felt rushed—as though Cole’s death had been used purely to advance other relationships. Viewers wondered whether Victoria’s journey with Nate, or Clare’s evolving bond with Holden, could have progressed just as powerfully without sacrificing Cole. Even Clare’s brief connection with Kyle took a backseat as her grief dominated her emotional world. Her heartbreak over losing her father, just as she found him, complicated every aspect of her life. As relationships shifted and old wounds reopened, the loss of Cole became both a catalyst and a question mark. Was his death necessary, or was it simply an easy way to manufacture emotional stakes for those left behind?

Beyond the romantic drama, the emotional impact of Cole’s death hit Clare hardest. Her dreams of a whole, loving family vanished in an instant. A voicemail left for Kyle captured her grief, pouring out the sorrow of losing a father she barely had the chance to know. Meanwhile, Tessa was dealing with heartbreak of her own as her wife, Mariah, withdrew emotionally and physically. Confused and devastated, Tessa leaned on Daniel for support while struggling with her inability to reach Mariah. Both Clare and Tessa found themselves trapped in emotional limbo, trying to hold onto love while watching it slip away. Their stories reflected the fragility of human connection and the toll grief can take. As they face uncertain futures, each woman must find the strength to move forward, hoping healing will come with time. But in the world of The Young and the Restless, the line between love and loss is razor-thin—and no heart is safe.