Jack Abbott’s choice to temporarily shut down Jabot wasn’t just a bold business maneuver— it was an enormous gamble that placed the entire Abbott legacy at risk. For many observers, forcing a powerhouse corporation to go dark for several months seemed almost unthinkable, as if Jack were carelessly placing generations of hard-earned reputation on the chopping block. Yet standing in his position, with the danger closing in, Jack couldn’t see any other path forward.

The threat posed by Victor Newman’s AI program wasn’t some exaggerated rumor. Jack understood better than anyone how deadly that technology could be if unleashed inside Jabot’s systems. Victor’s AI, once embedded, could twist the company’s infrastructure, manipulate sensitive data, or quietly sabotage Jabot from the inside until it was too late to repair the damage. Faced with that possibility, Jack decided that pulling Jabot completely offline—even for months—was the only effective defense left.

He knew the consequences would be severe. Revenues would plummet, shareholders would panic, and employees would lose confidence. Competitors would circle like vultures. Financial reports and internal projections were already painting a grim picture. Some accused Jack of letting his rivalry with Victor cloud his judgment. But to Jack, it wasn’t a matter of choosing between a good decision and a bad one. It was deciding between a dangerous risk and a catastrophic collapse.

Once Jabot’s systems actually went dark, Jack felt an uneasy moment of relief. The silent servers and paused projects gave him a small sense of protection—like he had finally taken the offensive in a war he had been losing. For the first time in a long while, he felt ahead of Victor. But that feeling, fleeting as it was, couldn’t erase the truth: Victor Newman was not the kind of man who gave up simply because someone tried to block him.

Victor had patience, strategy, and a taste for long-term revenge. If Jack thought shutting down Jabot would cause Victor to retreat, he was sorely mistaken. Denied access to Jabot’s systems, Victor would simply find another angle. If the technological route was temporarily sealed off, he could attack through finances, alliances, or psychological pressure—areas where he was equally lethal. Victor’s recent failure to convince Jill to cut Billy’s funding was only a speed bump. It certainly wouldn’t stop him.

This broader battlefield made Jack’s decision appear even more precarious. He could control servers and firewalls, but he couldn’t control people—employees, partners, or allies—who could be influenced or manipulated by Victor. Nor could he stop rumors, doubts, and internal fractures from spreading. If Jabot couldn’t bounce back after its months-long shutdown, Jack’s drastic move would be recorded as the decision that destroyed his own company—ironically doing Victor’s job for him.

Even with all of those fears in mind, Jack had no choice but to move forward. The shutdown was already in motion. Now, he had to use this limited window of “safety” to prepare for whatever strike Victor orchestrated next. Strengthening internal defenses, understanding Victor’s AI more thoroughly, and anticipating which parts of the Abbott empire might be targeted next became Jack’s new priorities.

Meanwhile, Abbott Communications was gearing up for a milestone event—its big launch night. Billy and Sally had poured heart and soul into the project, hoping this would finally be their redemption. For once, things looked bright. But even before the celebration could begin, a new complication emerged: Adam Newman. His mere presence was enough to unsettle the entire atmosphere. One misstep, one overheard secret, one calculated move by Adam could turn the night upside down.

Still, the event had the potential to succeed spectacularly. If everything went smoothly, the launch could elevate Billy and Sally’s careers and place Abbott Communications on equal footing with Newman Media. But in Genoa City, good fortune never lasts long. Just as the project seemed poised for a triumphant debut, the shadow of Victor Newman hovered once again.

By sealing Jabot off from the AI threat, Jack may have inadvertently directed Victor’s retaliation toward Abbott Communications instead. If Victor unleashed his AI program there, Billy and Sally’s new company could be sabotaged long before it reached its prime. Misleading analytics, distorted data, poorly timed decisions—an invisible technological sabotage could slowly rot the company from within until investors lost faith and the brand collapsed.

Such a downfall wouldn’t just crush a business; it would devastate Billy, Sally, and Jack emotionally. Victor wouldn’t need to strike loudly. A quiet erosion would hurt far more.

And so the question lingers ominously: Is Abbott Communications the next target?
The most frightening threat isn’t the attack that happens—
it’s the one everyone knows is coming, but no one can predict.