Friday’s episode of Days of Our Lives ignites a firestorm of emotion, betrayal, and danger that no one in Salem will escape unscathed. From shattered promises and secret experiments

to one devastating misunderstanding, this episode marks the beginning of a new and chilling chapter in the town’s dark history. By the time night falls, lives will be changed forever,

and the long-feared symbol of rebirth—the phoenix—will rise once again.

A Promise Broken: EJ Faces Abe’s Fury

The morning sun may shine over Salem, but inside City Hall, the atmosphere is ice-cold. Abe Carver, the town’s moral compass, stands tall behind his desk, his calm voice laced with years of disappointment. Across from him, EJ DiMera walks in with his usual confidence—a mask that hides growing cracks.

Abe wastes no time. This isn’t about business, he tells him. It’s about promises—specifically the ones EJ keeps breaking. He reminds EJ that he vowed to stay away from baby Trey, allowing Johnny and Chanel the peace they’ve been struggling to build. Yet EJ couldn’t resist inserting himself into their lives once again.

EJ defends himself, claiming he only reached out as a father, not a DiMera. But Abe’s cutting reply leaves him speechless: “That’s the problem, EJ. You don’t know the difference anymore.” The words pierce deeper than any public insult. EJ slams his hand on the desk, rage boiling beneath his tailored composure.

“You think I’ll never escape Stefano’s shadow?” he roars. Abe’s calm response is a dagger to the heart: “I think you’ve spent your life trying—and failing.” The silence that follows is suffocating. EJ storms out, the echo of the slammed door reverberating through City Hall. But his fury won’t cool—it will drive him straight back into the one place he should never return: the DiMera Lab. And there, redemption will no longer be an option.

Gwen’s Dangerous Mission

As the day unfolds, the chaos within the DiMera empire spreads. At the mansion, Gwen Rizczech finds a mysterious envelope on her dresser—thick paper, black wax seal, no name. Inside is a note with a time, place, and one ominous instruction: Come alone.

That night, curiosity leads her to a location few in Salem even know exists—the DiMera Research Facility. Cold fluorescent light flickers as she steps inside, the hum of machinery echoing off sterile walls. And then, a voice emerges from the shadows.

“Ms. Rizczech,” says Dr. Wilhelm Rolf, his tone unsettlingly polite. “You’re here precisely on time. Good. You’ve been chosen to oversee the next phase of Project Phoenix.”

Gwen stammers, confused. “I’m not qualified for this.”

Rolf smiles—a sharp, serpentine grin. “I don’t need a scientist. I need someone expendable.” He slides a folder toward her, filled with photos, medical charts, and one name circled in red: Jennifer Horton.

Gwen’s heart skips a beat. “What does Jennifer have to do with this?”

Rolf’s answer sends a chill down her spine. “She’s not part of the experiment. She is the experiment.”

Before Gwen can react, the lab doors seal shut behind her. The realization hits hard—she’s trapped. Once you work for the DiMeras, there’s no getting out alive.

Chad’s Innocent Gesture Turns to Scandal

Across town, tragedy of a different kind brews in the Deveraux household. Cat Green sits trembling on the couch, tears streaking her face. She’s just come from the hospital, haunted by the accident that nearly killed Alex.

“It’s my fault,” she sobs. “If I hadn’t lost control, he’d be fine.”

Chad DiMera kneels beside her, his voice gentle but steady. “Cat, it was an accident. You didn’t mean it.”

Overcome by guilt, Cat collapses into his arms—a moment of compassion mistaken for something far more damning. Because at that very moment, Jennifer Horton and young Thomas step into the room.

“Dad?” Thomas whispers, disbelief breaking his voice. Jennifer’s face drains of color. What she sees looks like betrayal—the man she trusted holding another woman in secret.

Chad jumps up, desperate to explain, but it’s too late. The damage is done. Jennifer’s eyes fill with tears as Thomas storms upstairs. One innocent gesture has turned into a family-shattering scandal.

Jennifer’s Prophecy of Fear

Later that night, Jennifer sits alone in her bedroom, her heart heavy with heartbreak and confusion. The memory replays in her mind like a nightmare she can’t escape—Cat crying, Chad’s arms around her, Thomas’s shattered expression.

“Not again,” she whispers, clutching a framed photo of Jack. “Please, not again.”

A sudden knock breaks the silence. She opens the door to find Susan Banks standing there, pale and trembling.

“Jennifer, honey, listen to me,” Susan pleads. “I had a vision.”

Jennifer, still reeling, tries to brush her off, but Susan’s voice rises in urgency. “Something dark is circling your family. I saw flames, shadows… a symbol. The phoenix—it’s rising again.”

Jennifer grips the doorframe, fear flooding her veins. “You mean Thomas’s accident?”

Susan shakes her head. “No, this isn’t about a child. It’s about what EJ’s doing behind those closed doors. He’s opening something that should have stayed buried.”

Before Jennifer can respond, the lights flicker violently. A freezing gust rushes through the room, slamming the window open. Susan’s eyes widen. “Stop him, Jennifer—before it’s too late.” And then she’s gone.

Jennifer turns toward the mirror. Her reflection ripples—and for a heartbeat, another figure stands behind her. A whisper curls through the air, soft and unmistakable: “The phoenix rises again.”

The Fire to Come

Friday’s episode of Days of Our Lives doesn’t just end—it lingers. Chad’s reputation lies in ruins, Jennifer’s trust shattered, and Gwen’s fate sealed inside the walls of the DiMera lab. EJ’s obsession grows darker by the hour, and Susan’s warning echoes across Salem like a prophecy.

The phoenix—symbol of the DiMeras, of rebirth through ruin—is stirring once more. And when it rises, no one in Salem will remain untouched.

As secrets combust and loyalties burn, one question looms: who will survive when the past returns to claim its due?

Because in Days of Our Lives, every ending is just the beginning—and every resurrection comes with a price.