Cane Ashby is playing chess, not checkers, on The Young and the Restless—and Mariah Copeland is the latest piece on his board. New spoilers reveal that Cane instructed Holden to get close to Mariah, not out of friendship, but to dig up blackmail-worthy intel he desperately wants. Here’s the full breakdown on why he’s targeting her—and what it reveals about Cane’s escalating power play in Genoa City.

🎯 Cane’s Strategy: Holden as a Spy

According to Celeb Dirty Laundry, Cane carved out a secret role for Holden—befriending four key Genoa City players: Claire, Adam, Chelsea, and yes, Mariah facebook.com+15celebdirtylaundry.com+15facebook.com+15. But why Mariah? While Nick, Adam, and Claire are obvious targets tied to Newman and Abbott fortunes, Mariah seems less obvious—until you remember her behind-the-scenes past connected to Cassidy First, a company Cane is plotting to overthrow soaphub.com.

In short, Cane suspects Mariah holds dirt—enough to threaten Sharon or her stake in Cassidy First. Once Holden gains trust, Cane plans to extract the information—and leverage it for a takeover.

🕵️ What Cane Could Be After

1. Business leverage against Sharon and Cassidy First:
   With Mariah tied to the company via family, Cane could expose secrets to manipulate Sharon and control Cassidy First’s board.

2. Blueprint for destabilizing Newman-Abbott alliances:
   Info on Mariah psych-offers could be a stepping stone for Cane’s broader campaign against Victor-led factions.

3. Blackmail material for bargaining power:
   Scandal or secret ties could give Cane leverage not just over Sharon, but also allied Newmans unwilling to cross him.

Soap Hub summed it up, noting Cane may be “taking down everyone’s companies”—and Mariah’s role, though unexpected, could be essential to unraveling Sharon’s holdings celebdirtylaundry.comsoaphub.com+1yahoo.com+1.

🤨 Why Mariah?

Despite being a newer Newman by marriage, Mariah holds unique sway:

• Her connection to Cassidy First, inherited from her mother Cassidy and stepmother Sharon.

• A shadowy trip to France—rumored secret business dealings or uncovered evidence from a romantic entanglement imdb.com+2soaphub.com+2yahoo.com+2.

• Her moral compass and vulnerability make her influence potent and, if compromised, highly effective for Cane.

Holden’s assignment suggests Cane sees Mariah not as collateral—but as a key to unlocking Sharon’s financial empire.

🔍 Holden’s Critical Role

Holden Novak appears to be Cane’s trusted mole-in-blue, acting as:

• Social infiltrator—befriending and gaining trust from unassuming targets.

• Information gatherer—reporting back on conversations and innermost secrets.

• Point man—allowing Cane to stay detached from direct contact with Mariah or Sharon.

This clandestine espionage makes Holden the unsung threat at the heart of Cane’s covert operation.

💣 What It Means for Genoa City

This intel-gathering mission sets up several explosive conflicts:

• Mariah vs. Holden—once Mariah realizes Holden isn’t a friend, trust will erode fast.

• Sharon vs. Cane—when datagathering leads to threats, expect a bitter showdown between two formidable women.

• Corporate warfare—information from Mariah could become the fulcrum for Cane’s planned hostile takeover of Cassidy or even parts of Newman-Abbott businesses.

🧭 What’s Next? Watch For:

• Secret revelations: Holden relays new secrets to Cane after bonding with Mariah—maybe at Crimson Lights.

• Mariah’s paranoia: She starts piecing together an odd friendship and may confide in Sharon or Chelsea.

• Corporate moves: Cane could launch boardroom maneuvers using insider details, triggering investor alarm.

• Emotional fallout: Trust shattered may align Mariah and Sharon more firmly against Cane, setting the stage for confrontation.

✨ Final Thoughts

Cane Ashby is escalating his endgame—and Mariah Copeland may unknowingly hold the key. By deploying Holden like a private investigator, Cane isn’t just targeting Newmans or Abbotts: he’s strategically dismantling opposing power structures piece by piece.

If this scheme works, Genoa City’s business landscape will be blown wide open. If it fails, Cain may ignite one of Y&R’s most explosive scorched-earth dramas yet—anchored by betrayal, trust shattered, and corporate war.

Keep watching—because no one in Genoa City will be safe from Cane’s ambitions.