Credit: CBS screenshot

While not on the scale of the Newman family being held captive and poisoned, Young & Restless’ latest drama certainly threw one character into full-on panic mode, and left viewers with questions about the aftermath.

On the Thursday, December 7 episode of Young & Restless, Lily’s conversation with Devon and Nate about hiring the latter back at Chancellor-Winters took a turn for the CEO when she received a call that left her frantic.

Lily learned that Mattie’s school was on lockdown thanks to a threatening wildfire nearby. It was the type of adrenaline boost that no mother ever wants to have as Lily flew into panic mode, telling her brother and cousin that she needed to leave town immediately, so as to be there when Mattie was released from the lockdown and to ensure that she was OK.

Of course, Young & Restless fans quickly realized that this was likely the plot twist that would send Christel Khalil off on her maternity leave, given Khalil is expecting her second child at any time now.

While it might not make sense that Lily would stay with Mattie, given how frightening lockdowns are, and depending on how shaken up the young woman is after her ordeal, that could well be how the story goes to accommodate Khalil’s absence.

So how will the crisis with the fire ignite a love triangle given that Lily wouldn’t even be present? It opens the door for Heather to move in on Daniel, who offered to go with Lily, but was turned down.

As we saw in the days leading up to this pivotal phone call, Lily is on guard where Heather is concerned, despite the legal eagle’s insistence that she has no desire to step on anyone’s toes. And why wouldn’t she be given that the last time Lily walked into Daniel’s apartment, she saw him holding his ex in his arms. It was all very innocent, of course, but an unsettling sight nevertheless.

If our hunch is correct, while Lily’s away, Daniel will be tempted to play. Heather will be around his place constantly since Lucy’s living there, and though he’s committed to Lily, the fact is that he didn’t split up with his ex because he no longer had feelings for her. They parted ways due to his downward spiral and not because the love they had for one another was gone. That means there could be unresolved feelings they may be compelled to act on in a moment of weakness.

Another clue? Much was made of Lily having a key to Daniel’s apartment the day before she got the phone call that led to her leaving town. That’s a hint that she’ll use said key to surprise him when she comes back only to walk in on him cheating with Heather — or perhaps a scenario where it appears that’s what’s happening.

Either way, the plot twist of a fire near Mattie’s school is set to ignite this developing love triangle, which could consequently explode! Tell us what you think will go down in this storyline using the comments.