EJ DiMera is showing unexpected concern for Kat today, and that alone is saying something for a man not known for genuine worry. But Kat has a very good reason to be nervous, and her anxiety is starting to show in ways that could blow her cover wide open. . Kat is secretly an ISA agent planted by Shane Donovan to investigate EJ’s connection to the Visavik resurrection drug lab.
After undergoing hypnosis with Marlena, she recently recovered a memory from Italy: she had tolda comatose EJ her true identity. That admission was a massive protocol breach, and now she is scrambling to figure out how to confess to Rafe without destroying her career. Her erratic behavior has not gone unnoticed, though. EJ is picking upon her nerves, and his concern is growing.
But the question remains whether that concern is genuine or whether his subconscious is beginning to remember what happened while he was unconscious. . Meanwhile, Belle and Chad are getting closer, and their connection is turning romantic despite complications. Chad has been through tremendous loss and trauma: grief over Abigail, the horrific experience of believing Kat was his dead wife, a brutal custody battle, and reuniting with his children.
He and Belle connected through a dating app, bonded over a wholesome baseball date with the kids, and have since been pulled into the mystery of Stefano’s chess set clues. They traveled to Rome to chase the D O M lead found on a champagne bottle, but EJ invited himself along, clearly jealous of their growing bond. Still, Chad and Belle are finding moments alone, bonding over their shared experience of dealing with Stefano’s madness. Their connection feels real this time, despite an old history involving Andre brainwashing Chad to seduce Belle years ago.
But someone is watching them through a spy cam, making their romantic getaway far from safe. . Kate and Gabi are forming a dangerous alliance, trading favors in what feels like a strangers-on-a-train setup. Gabi is in Monte Carlo with Philip, who is competing in a $5 million poker tournament to save Titan from financial ruin.
Gabi funded the venture and is pretending to be his fiancee just to get into the casino. But she is also obsessed with exposing who is making counterfeit Gabi Chic bags, and she believes EJ is behind it. She needs proof and help. Kate, meanwhile, is on the outs with Roman after confessing to setting up Johnny in a bogus Titan lawsuit.
She is desperate to regain power and secure her legacy. If Kate helps Gabi uncover the counterfeit ring—perhaps by using old DiMera connections to find a paper trail—Gabi could return the favor with something massive, like using her DiMera inheritance to secretly fund a Kate project or sabotaging Maggie at Titan. Both women areruthless and survivors, and if they team up, the rest of Salem should be concerned. .
Back in Salem, Leo Stark is digging for information of his own, pushing Gwen for dirt on EJ. Leo pitchedan idea to Gabi to expose the counterfeit bag ring, and she agreed to fund the investigation. So he is on the payrolland is now looking to Gwen, who just forced EJ to sell University Hospital to her. Gwen rejected EJ’s compromise offer outright, wanting to watch him lose everything.
That gives her inside knowledge of EJ’s vulnerabilities. Leo knows this. Their history includes shared captivity under Dimitri in Alamainia, creating a toxic but real bond. Leo is also distracted by his continued obsession with Javi, who has moved on with Gus.
He may be using this investigation as a distraction, but Gwen is not going to hand over information for free. She will want something in return—perhaps a hit piece on EJ or intel on Xander and Sarah, given her unresolved issues there. . The biggest development of the day involves Stefano’s iconic Phoenix ring.
EJ has been wearing it, fully embracing his father’s ruthless legacywhile covering up drug deaths, playing God with Lexie’s life, and framing Holly. But he madea mistake: hetook off the ring and left it on the coffee table at the DiMera mansion, and now it is gone. Someone swiped it, though the spoilers only describe the thief as a mysterious person. Possibilities include Rita Lesley, Stefano’s old fixer who has been helping EJ cover up crimes but may secretly be working against him; Sydney DiMera, who is rumored to be returning to Salem—with Evelyn Stevenson debuting on September 9—and could have taken her grandfather’s ring to make a statement; or someone connected to the person watching Chad and Belle through the spy cam, possibly orchestrating the chess set clues.
Whoever has the ring is positioned to make a major power play, signaling that EJ is losing control over his empire. The DiMera family war is escalating, and this missing ring could be the spark that ignites everything. . Tuesday’s episode bringstogether EJ’s sudden worry for Kat, the growing romance between Belle and Chad in Italy, Kate and Gabi scheming, Leo pressing Gwen for information, and the mysterious theft of Stefano’s ring—leaving Salem on edge about what comes next.
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