Chance’s tragic end may have closed one chapter, but could it be the spark that finally ignites Abby’s rise?

A Sudden Farewell: Why Chance Had to Die

On the July 28 episode of The Young and the Restless, fans were hit with a gut punch as Chance Chancellor (played by Conner Floyd) met an unexpected and unexplained end. The character’s demise came not with a bang, but a bewildering sense of why now?

Chance had been noticeably absent from major storylines lately. His presence had dwindled to the point where it felt like he was already off-screen, doing little, impacting even less. So why kill him off instead of quietly letting him fade into the background? The show could have easily had him transfer, go undercover again, or simply live off the grid. But the writers took a different route—one that leaves emotional devastation in its wake, particularly for those closest to him.

For longtime fans, the loss hits harder when considering the weight it places on Nina (Tricia Cast), who now mourns yet another child, and Jill (Jess Walton), whose health concerns have been mounting. Why pile tragedy on top of tragedy unless there’s a larger story twist coming?

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Abby’s Turn to Step Up?

Chance’s death may not just be a tearjerker—it might be a game-changer.

Abby Newman-Abbott-Chancellor (Melissa Ordway) has the pedigree of a Genoa City queenpin: she’s an Abbott, a Newman, and by marriage, a Chancellor. Yet somehow, she’s consistently sidelined when the big corporate battles erupt. While Victoria, Adam, and Nate spar over boardroom seats and billion-dollar decisions, Abby is often relegated to restaurant dramas or quiet family scenes.

Could the tragic loss of her husband be the thing that pulls her into the heart of the action—not for her own sake, but for her son, Dominic?

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Dominic: The Power Pawn in a Family Empire

Dominic isn’t just any child. He is, genetically, the son of Abby and Devon (Bryton James), though Devon’s initial role was that of a sperm donor. That arrangement evolved dramatically, with Devon stepping in emotionally, and eventually, romantically, marrying Abby. It’s a tangled web of intention, love, and biology.

Legally, however, Dominic remains the son of Chance—a Chancellor heir. That makes him the grandson of Nina and the great-grandson of Jill. With Chance now gone, Dominic’s status could elevate beyond the emotional sphere into a major point of inheritance, power, and legacy.

Will the Newmans try to exert influence over Dominic’s future? Will the Chancellors claim him as their own, with Jill’s influence shadowing from afar? Could Devon reignite legal claims to establish his paternity formally? And where does this leave Abby?

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From Passive to Proactive: Abby’s Potential Arc

If The Young and the Restless writers are playing the long game, this could be Abby’s breakout moment. With Chance’s death as the catalyst, Abby could become a central player in Genoa City’s corporate and familial wars. She may finally tap into the calculating Newman fire and the savvy Abbott wit—and potentially even develop a ruthless Chancellor edge.

This isn’t just about grieving a lost husband. It’s about legacy. About protection. About power. And most of all, about making sure her son—Dominic—has the future he deserves, one secured by the very empires whose blood flows in his veins.

So while Chance may be gone, his death could spark the rebirth of Abby as a force to be reckoned with.

A Sudden Farewell: Why Chance Had to Die On the July 28 episode of The Young and the Restless, fans were hit with a gut punch as Chance Chancellor (played by Conner Floyd) met an unexpected and unexplained end. The character’s demise came not with a bang, but a bewildering sense of why now? Chance…