Why is Young & Restless’ Jill Returning? What’s Her Secret?

When news dropped that Jill was making the trek back to Genoa City our first question was, “Why?” Well, as it turns out she’s coming back not only with an agenda, but also a secret she’s desperate to keep hidden from – who else? – but her son, Billy. Let’s dig in…

It was early in May when we learned that Jill, who had been suffering heart-related health maladies and was being taken care of by her doctor brother, Snapper Foster, would be making a trip back to her hometown. A casting note alerted us that Lauren Koslow would be filling in for Jess Walto, who was unable to make the commute from her home state of Oregon in the necessary time frame to film scenes.

As it turns out, Jill, who must finally be feeling better, has good reasons for returning. Her agenda? Head Writer Josh Griffith teased in Soap Opera Digest that she’s back on a “mission” to bring “her son Billy Abbott and her stepson

Given that Cane has just taken the reins at the coveted Chancellor Industries, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that we could be headed toward a scenario where Cane offers Billy a position there, thus opening the door to all sorts of drama, given that Billy may or may not have learned by now that he can’t be successful without playing well with others. Typically, he gets all controlling and everything falls apart.

But that’s not all. Jill’s also harboring a “huge secret” that could have “major consequences if Billy finds out.” How ironic that Billy’s mother is ready to pop back into town loaded down with pot-stirring ingredients just when he’s finally experiencing a period of calm in his life.

What information does Jill have that she so desperately wants to keep from Billy? Why is she so bent on making peace between not-brothers, Billy and Cane? We’re not Sherlock Holmes, but we’d wager a month’s salary (Ok, maybe a day’s) that it has to do with Chancellor, which Lily just asked Cane to run.

Perhaps she’s discovered a hidden codicile to Katherine’s will that states she wanted Billy to run it (if they’re redeeming a serial rapist, anything’s possible). That would explain why she’s so keen for him to make amends with Cane, given that the latter would be kicked to the curb if the information came to light under the current circumstances.

Of course, Jill may be hiding the fact that she’s terminal. She’s the kind of person who wouldn’t want pity and sadness. This would absolutely impact Billy’s life in a huge way, and it would also explain her wanting him to have a familial relationship with Cane for extra support, as the grief could send him off the rails.

Bottom line: we don’t know Jill’s secret yet, nor why she wants to keep it from Billy, but we do know that if it will have such a profound impact on his life, it will also affect his pregnant fiancée, Sally, who has dealt with his spin outs multiple times before. We also know that secrets always come out in daytime.

Yes, SOAPS readers, this is shaping up to be hella messy for all involved! Drop your best guess at Jill’s secret in the comments and cast a vote in the poll: