At Crimson Lights, Holden sips coffee and conducts a job search on his phone. Suddenly, he gets a text from his mom that she’s running late but almost there. He’s smiling when Audra arrives.

Audra hopes he’s not smiling about Claire. Holden thinks she’s still afraid he’ll reveal their secret. Audra reminds him he’d be incriminating himself too. They go back and forth as he tries to shrink her. She needles him about being unemployed and pining.

Audra settles into a chair, and they bicker at length about Kyle, Noah, and Claire. Holden wonders if he could win Claire over by coming clean about L.A. Audra levels, “Don’t you dare.” As she’s threatening to make his life hell if he breathes a word, Dr. Stephanie Simmons walks in and asks who the hell she thinks she is, threatening her son!

Amused, Holden introduces Audra as an old friend. Stephanie’s not convinced but Holden insists they were kidding around. They assure her they’re not involved romantically, and Audra introduces herself properly, holding out her hand. Stephanie regards it with disdain.

When Holden prompts his mom, she shakes Audra’s hand, and then runs her off so she can speak to her son alone. Stephanie informs Holden that woman is bad news. Holden asks, “What did you fly all the way out here to tell me?”

Cane Drain

On the Cane train, an accountant type gives him news about his assets… it isn’t good. Cane sits down heavily and gawps, “There’s nothing left.” He bellows at the man, who explains they don’t know where the money went… it just vanished. No one will fund him either. All the doors are closed unless he has another option.

Cane has money in offshore accounts, but it’s not enough. If he can’t take a loan, he’ll have to take what other people have built. He orders the man to find the weakest companies in town. When he balks, Cane fires him. “Go!”

A Win

At Summers Conglomerate, Phyllis makes a deal over the phone and is jubilant. Patting herself on the back, she calls Lauren to crow about it. It feels so good to win! They don’t need anyone in Genoa City.

Lily’s Surprise Visitor

At the Club, Devon and Nate encounter Lily. The men are still upset with Lily but ask her to join them. She admits she’s meeting someone. Devon hopes it’s not Cane. She says he’s not speaking to her and launches into her regrets. They’re still chatting when Malcolm arrives. He greets Devon, Nate, and finally his “baby girl,” Lily.

Malcolm explains he needed some family time; it was kind of spontaneous. He asks to speak to Lily in private. She follows him, and Devon wonders to Nate what the hell that was about.

In the jazz lounge, Malcolm and Lily look up at Neil’s portrait. They miss him. Malcolm says feeling his brother’s presence makes it easier for him to say what he has to say. Lily laughs nervously, “You’re scaring me.” Malcolm reveals that he has a rare disease called aplastic anemia. It can be fatal if left untreated. The reason he’s there is he needs her to save his life.

Lily, shaken, asks how she can help. Malcolm needs a bone marrow transplant, and a compatible donor is usually a family member. Lily assures him she’ll get tested and doesn’t care if it’s unpleasant. She’s honored that he came to her. Mal reminds her Olivia had the same disease and Dru saved her life. Lily vows he’ll beat this… her dad will make sure of it.

In the dining room, Devon’s obsessing over what Malcolm had to talk to Lily about… maybe it was Cane. He and Nate speculate, and Devon grouses about Cane being a parasite. He’s convinced that Lily still has feelings for her ex. Nate’s not sure they can come back from this. Devon hopes he leaves town. Cane appears. He’s not going anywhere.

Rolling his eyes, Devon asks Ashby why he’d stick around. Cane informs him it’s none of his business. They butt heads as Cane declares that he has plans there. Nate mocks him about pretending he’s still in the game when they all know he’s finished. Devon puts him on notice to leave his family out of it.

Back in the lounge, Malcolm explains he’ll need chemo and radiation. Lily will be with him every step of the way. He says there’s a chance of full remission with a successful transplant, but no guaranteed. Lily gets emotional. She couldn’t save Neil, but maybe she can save Malcolm.

In the Club dining room, Phyllis shows up in time to hear Cane tell Devon and Nate he wants nothing to do with Lily. She beams, “Took you long enough.” They’re all trying to get rid of Red when Lily and Malcolm rejoin them. Phyllis and Malcolm, old friends, embrace. He teases her about running the whole town and she invites him to come and see the office.

As Devon asks Lily if she’s OK, Cane barks, “Hello, Malcolm.” Mal walks over and warns him to stay away from his family. Ashby says the feeling’s mutual and stalks off. Phyllis leaves soon after, and Malcolm chats with Devon and Nate, who ask how long he’ll be in town. Malcolm says it depends. He gets a text and Lily asks, “Is everything OK?”

The Final Scenes

Malcolm tells Lily he has to go meet an old friend… they’ll meet up later. He tells Devon and Nate it was good to see them, and leaves. Devon asks Lily what’s going on. They know something is wrong. She insists everything is fine.

At the bar, Phyllis tells Cane she’s glad he finally gave up on Lily and stopped degrading himself. He suggests she go sit somewhere else. Undeterred, Phyllis explains she’s having a mimosa to celebrate Summers Conglomerate “crushing it.” She questions him about his plan to stick around town and guesses he’s seeking revenge on… Lily? On Victor? On her? Cane smirks as she finally asks, “All of the above, Cane?”

At Crimson Lights, Stephanie tells Holden this isn’t an easy thing to talk about… she needs to gather her thoughts. Frowning, he asks, “What is it?” She has to tell him something that will change his world. “It’s time that you learned the truth about your father.”