Welcome back, loyal fans of Days of our Lives! Salem is once again the epicenter of a jaw-dropping mystery as EJ DiMera dives into the shadows of his fractured memory to uncover the truth behind his own shooting. This explosive storyline threatens to unravel the entire DiMera legacy as EJ resorts to hypnosis to unlock what really happened that fateful night — and the results leave Salem gasping.

It all began when a single gunshot echoed through the DiMera mansion, nearly killing EJ. Everyone assumed the culprit was his son, Johnny DiMera — whose anger, resentment, and presence at the scene made him the perfect suspect. But as EJ recovers, disturbing gaps in his memory begin to cast doubt on Johnny’s guilt. Could EJ have been wrong all along?

A BROKEN MEMORY AND A DANGEROUS GAMBLE 🔫🧠

Haunted by fragmented recollections — the flash of a gun, the sting of betrayal, Johnny’s tortured expression — EJ decides to take a bold and controversial step. He turns to Dr. Marlena Evans for help, placing his trust in hypnosis to bring clarity to his fractured mind.

Under Marlena’s careful guidance, EJ is transported back to that harrowing night. He remembers the heat of the confrontation with Johnny — the pain of past betrayals boiling to the surface. But instead of pulling the trigger, Johnny surrendered the gun. A heartfelt plea from EJ — a rare moment of vulnerability — seemed to break through Johnny’s walls. In that instant, father and son shared a fragile truce.

But then… the gun vanished.

THE MISSING BULLET AND THE RISING DOUBTS 🕵️‍♂️💥

When the weapon was later found stashed outside in a planter, it became clear that someone else had entered the mansion after Johnny left. EJ’s hypnosis reveals the sound of footsteps approaching, a shadowy figure holding the gun, and then—blank. The identity of the intruder remains hidden behind a mental fog, but EJ now knows one thing for certain: Johnny didn’t shoot him.

This revelation hits hard. If Johnny is innocent, then EJ has been falsely accusing his own son. Worse, the real shooter is still out there — and may be closer than anyone dares to admit.

FAMILY UNDER FIRE – WHO WANTED EJ DEAD? 🔍💣

As the Salem PD intensifies their investigation, more unsettling clues emerge. A neighbor reports seeing a second car fleeing the mansion that night. The recovered gun bears a partial fingerprint — not Johnny’s. The bullet? Still missing.

Could the assailant be a DiMera enemy seeking revenge? A bitter former lover? Or, even more terrifying, a trusted family member with a dark agenda?

Suspicion swirls around several familiar faces. Kristen DiMera’s tight alibi raises eyebrows, while Sami Brady’s fiery return to Salem adds gasoline to the fire. Determined to protect her son, Sami vows to expose the shooter — no matter the cost.

Meanwhile, Roman Brady, ever the determined cop, is hot on the trail. But even he admits the case is slipping into dangerous territory. The deeper they dig, the murkier the truth becomes.

EJ AND JOHNNY: A FRAGILE RECONCILIATION 💔👨‍👦

The emotional weight of the investigation is staggering. Johnny, now under house arrest, feels betrayed by his father’s initial accusations. EJ, consumed by guilt, struggles to rebuild the shattered trust.

In a rare moment of connection, EJ finally tells Johnny, “I believe you.” For the first time, Johnny feels truly seen — not as a suspect, but as a son. Their reconciliation, however tentative, is a glimmer of hope in the storm.

But time is running out. With Johnny’s trial fast approaching and the prosecution building a solid case, EJ knows he must act quickly. He prepares for another hypnosis session — one he hopes will finally reveal the face of his shooter.

THE NEXT SESSION COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING ⚖️⏳

Marlena warns EJ of the risks. Hypnosis may uncover a painful truth. What if the shooter is someone he loves? What if EJ himself played a role in the night’s events in ways he can’t yet comprehend?

Still, EJ presses forward. For his son. For justice. For the DiMera name.

As we hurtle toward the climax of this riveting arc, one question echoes louder than all others:

Who shot EJ DiMera?

The answer is coming. And when it does, it will shake the very foundations of Salem.

Stay tuned to Days of our Lives — where the truth is a loaded gun and no one is safe.