The Story Of Delia's Heartbreaking Death On The Young And The Restless

There are few things sadder than the death of a child, and when soap operas present such a heartbreaking and tragic story, they go all out to tug at viewers' heartstrings and produce the waterworks.

When Delia Abbott (Sophie Pollono) died on "The Young and the Restless" in 2013, it was an unexpected twist that seemed to come out of nowhere and affected future storylines for years to come. 

Cordelia "Delia" Abbott was the daughter of ne'er-do-well rich kid Billy Abbott (then played by Billy Miller) and Chloe Mitchell (Elizabeth Hendrickson), who was born Kate Valentine to Chancellor maid Esther Valentine (Kate Linder), via Soaps In Depth.

While Chloe and Billy were never truly in love, they married anyway for the sake of their unborn child, and when the marriage didn't work out, they still agreed to co-parent Delia. And Billy was with Delia on the fateful night that led to her death (via Soaps In Depth).

It was the evening of Delia Abbott's school play, and the little girl was thrilled to be playing the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of Oz." After her performance, Billy decided he and Delia would stop for ice cream, and when Billy ran into the shop, he left his daughter in the car. 

Delia let her dog out of the car to use the bathroom, but he ran across the road, so she got out to catch him. Then, Adam Newman (then played by Michael Muhney) came careening into her. However, Adam drove away, knowing he hit something but not realizing it was a person (via Soaps In Depth).

Sadly, Delia died of her injuries in the hospital, and her corneas were donated to Connor Newman, Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan) and Adam's son, who needed a transplant. When Billy realized Adam took his little girl from him, he held him at gunpoint and made him admit what he'd done (via Soaps In Depth).

Billy Abbott and Chloe Mitchell could barely cope after Delia Abbott died, and Billy's marriage to Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) didn't survive (via Soaps In Depth). 

Chloe was so anguished that she became unusually attached to Connor Newman and even kidnapped him. When she and the baby were found, Chloe left town to seek mental health treatment. However, she made sure to swipe a bit of Billy's donated sperm before she left and also spent the night with her ex, Kevin Fisher (Greg Rikaart).

Chloe returned several times over the next few years, and one return had her bringing a new daughter with her, eventually revealing that Kevin was little Bella's father. However, Chloe was still not completely well and drugged Adam Newman (then played by Justin Hartley) in a remote cabin one night. She then let the cabin explode, leaving him for dead as revenge for killing her first child (via Soaps In Depth).

It took several years, but as of this writing, Delia Abbott's parents have moved on and are trying to live healthy lives. Chloe Mitchell thought she managed to kill Adam Newman and faked her own death not to get caught, moving away with Kevin Fisher and their little girl, Bella. 

When Adam (now played by Mark Grossman) turned up alive, he forced Chloe out of hiding, and they forgave each other. Chloe even went on to have another child with Kevin (via Soaps In Depth).

Billy Abbott (now played by Jason Thompson) went on to make some bad decisions. He ruined his relationship with Victoria Newman twice; gambled away his money; had an affair with his brother's wife, Phyllis Summers (then played by Gina Tognoni); nearly married Phyllis but then broke up with her; and had a one-night stand with her daughter, Summer Newman (then played by Hunter King). 

He also had a mental breakdown in which a teenage Delia came to him and convinced him to get his life together (via TV Insider). He did so as best he could, and, in 2022, Billy is in a relationship with Lily Winters (Christel Khalil), according to Soaps In Depth.