The emotional layers behind The Young and the Restless continue to deepen as a surprising psychological theory emerges about one of Genoa City’s most unpredictable figures.
According to Sharon Newman, the aggressive power play by Phyllis Summers may not be about business ambition at all. Instead, Sharon believes Phyllis’ relentless push for control could be rooted in the trauma they both suffered at the hands of Martin Laurent.
If Sharon is right, the battle for corporate dominance may actually be a deeper emotional struggle — one that Phyllis refuses to acknowledge.
A Tense Encounter at the Café
The conversation began during an awkward meeting at Chancellor Park Cafe.
Phyllis approached Sharon after noticing she appeared emotional. When she asked what was wrong, Sharon brushed off her tears and instead focused on the chaos Phyllis had unleashed by taking control of Newman Enterprises.
Phyllis, however, insisted she had done nothing worse than what Victor Newman has done countless times.
But Sharon wasn’t convinced.
She questioned how Phyllis could justify actions that were already damaging her relationship with her own daughter, Summer Newman.
The mention of Summer clearly struck a nerve.
Phyllis had recently received a brutal letter from her daughter condemning her choices — a moment that still lingers painfully in her mind.
Phyllis Refuses to Back Down
Despite the emotional cost, Phyllis remains convinced she has finally achieved what she deserves.
In her mind, the outrage surrounding her takeover of Newman Enterprises has nothing to do with morality — it’s simply jealousy because she won.
Sharon tried to warn her that Victor could easily reclaim everything.
After all, the Newman empire was built to protect the people Victor loves. Anyone threatening that legacy inevitably becomes his enemy.
But Phyllis refused to accept that reality.
She made it clear that she no longer intends to follow anyone else’s rules.
Her words revealed the deeper motivation driving her actions: she refuses to be controlled by anyone ever again.
Sharon’s Troubling Theory
That statement caught Sharon’s attention immediately.
Phyllis’ obsession with control, Sharon suggested, may be directly connected to their shared nightmare involving Martin.
Martin — the twisted twin brother who once impersonated Alan — kidnapped both women and held them captive, leaving lasting psychological scars.
According to Sharon, the trauma of being powerless during that ordeal may have fundamentally changed Phyllis.
If Martin once controlled her life completely, then perhaps Phyllis’ current quest for dominance is an attempt to ensure that no one ever holds that power over her again.
In other words, her corporate war may be less about ambition — and more about reclaiming control after a deeply traumatic experience.
A Shared Trauma That Still Lingers
Phyllis quickly pointed out that more than a year has passed since the kidnapping.
But Sharon argued that trauma doesn’t simply disappear with time.
In fact, both women admitted that neither of them has truly moved on.
Sharon is currently consumed by fear surrounding the dangerous actions of Matt Clark, while Phyllis is dealing with the painful collapse of her family relationships.
Even though Martin is now behind bars, the emotional weight of what happened still hangs over them.
Phyllis Declares War
By the end of the conversation, Sharon asked Phyllis a simple question.
What does she really want?
Phyllis didn’t hesitate.
She wants the Newman empire.
And she’s willing to fight for it.
With that declaration, Phyllis made one thing crystal clear: she is no longer content to play by anyone else’s rules — especially the Newmans’.
But Sharon’s theory lingers in the background.
If Phyllis’ thirst for power is truly rooted in unresolved trauma, then the war she’s waging may not just be about business.
It could be a battle against the ghosts of her own past.