Salem is heading into one of its most emotionally charged weeks yet, as Days of Our Lives delivers heartbreak, betrayal, and life-altering consequences across

multiple storylines. From Gabi Hernandez facing devastating loss, to Rachel Black’s future hanging in the balance after her shocking crimes, the canvas is set for

a week that will test loyalties, expose long-buried secrets, and leave several characters forever changed.

At the center of the storm is Gabi, whose world threatens to collapse once again as confirmation arrives about Stefan DiMera’s fate. After months of uncertainty, half-truths, and manipulation, the question of whether Stefan is truly dead finally reaches a grim conclusion—one that Gabi is utterly unprepared to face.

Rafe Hernandez and Eli Grant travel to Alamainia to investigate lingering questions surrounding the DiMera kidnappings and the suspicious trail leading back to Vivian Alamain. Vivian, as always, is less than welcoming, bristling at Rafe’s presence and clearly irritated that anyone would dare question her version of events. Yet over the course of their investigation, Vivian presents what appears to be a convincing account: Stefan, she claims, died from heart complications related to his transplant, and a death certificate filed months after his alleged passing seems to support her story.

When Rafe returns to Salem with this confirmation, he delivers the devastating news to Gabi—Stefan is truly gone. Despite Gabi’s recent insistence that she had moved on, the finality of the news crushes her. Stefan was not just her ex-husband; he was a defining chapter of her life, filled with passion, chaos, and unfinished emotional business. The revelation leaves Gabi leaning heavily on her family and those closest to her, even as doubts linger about whether Vivian’s story is the full truth. Given Vivian’s long history of manipulation, many in Salem suspect this “death” may not be as permanent as it seems—but for now, Gabi is left to grieve a loss that feels painfully real.

Meanwhile, Gwen Rizczech finds herself plotting her next ruthless move as tensions escalate with her estranged husband, Dimitri von Leuschner. After Dimitri cut off Gwen financially and jeopardized her control over his fortune, Gwen turns to the one ally as dangerous as she is resourceful: Vivian Alamain. Together, they begin laying the groundwork for a plan that could remove Dimitri from Salem once and for all.

Gwen pitches her scheme to EJ DiMera, making it clear that Dimitri has become a liability—not just personally, but legally. With the DiMera kidnappings still under investigation and CCTV footage traced back to Alamainia, Gwen sees an opportunity to frame Dimitri and eliminate him as both a husband and a threat. EJ, furious over Dimitri’s interference in Leo Stark’s life and unimpressed by his recklessness, appears more than willing to let Gwen proceed. However, with police pressure mounting and unexpected witnesses cooperating, Gwen’s plan may not unfold as cleanly as she hopes.

Elsewhere, Rafe finds himself in an uneasy alliance with Kristen DiMera. Kristen, desperate to deflect blame for her daughter’s behavior, is determined to hold EJ responsible for the chaos surrounding Rachel. She argues that EJ’s toxic influence—and the DiMera legacy itself—played a role in pushing Rachel down such a dark path. Though Rafe trusts Kristen about as far as he can throw her, he recognizes that aligning with her could offer valuable insight into the DiMera family’s secrets. Their tentative partnership threatens to ignite a new war within the DiMera clan, even as Chad DiMera desperately urges his siblings to call a truce during Stefano DiMera’s memorial.

As old rivalries resurface, romantic chaos brews once more between Leo Stark and Dimitri. Despite Leo’s insistence that he wants nothing more to do with his husband, Dimitri refuses to back down, taunting Leo and daring him to give in to unresolved feelings. With Javi temporarily out of town, Dimitri seizes the opportunity to rekindle their dangerous chemistry, leading to another charged encounter that leaves Leo questioning his resolve. Whether this moment marks the end of Leo’s entanglement with Dimitri—or pulls him deeper into Gwen and Vivian’s scheme—remains to be seen.

Yet the most chilling storyline of the week belongs to young Rachel Black. After poisoning Sarah Horton and recalling her role in shooting EJ, Rachel faces a judge who must decide her fate. Kristen and Brady clash bitterly over how best to handle their daughter’s treatment, each blaming the other for her downward spiral. Rachel, wracked with guilt, wants to confess fully in hopes of protecting her mother from prison—but the consequences of her actions may be far more severe than she anticipates.’

As Belle attempts to prepare Rachel for the legal process, it becomes increasingly clear that optimism may not be enough. The judge holds Rachel’s future in their hands, and the likely outcome is an indefinite stay at Bayview or another psychiatric facility. Such a ruling would not only separate Rachel from her parents but redefine her childhood entirely. Tate’s presence as emotional support underscores just how serious the situation has become, as Salem grapples with the reality that a child’s crimes cannot simply be undone.

With Rachel potentially facing long-term institutionalization and the possibility of being aged up in the future, this storyline promises lasting repercussions for Brady, Kristen, and everyone in their orbit.

As Days of Our Lives barrels through this dramatic week, one thing is certain: no character escapes unscathed. Gabi’s heartbreak, Gwen’s scheming, DiMera infighting, and Rachel’s shocking sentence all converge to remind viewers why Salem remains a town where love and loss are never far apart—and where the consequences of today’s actions can haunt its residents for years to come.