Salem is no stranger to mystery, betrayal, and heartbreak—but nothing could have prepared its residents for the courtroom drama that’s about to unfold. As Johnny DiMera’s trial begins, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The life of a beloved son hangs in the balance, and the man who might hold the key to his freedom is none other than the victim himself—EJ DiMera.

But there’s one problem: EJ doesn’t remember what happened the night he was shot. Or at least, not clearly. As pressure mounts from every direction, EJ makes a desperate move to uncover the truth. And what he discovers may not only change the course of the trial—but unravel everything he thought he knew about that fateful night.

EJ’s Desperate Gamble: A Father’s Unraveling Memory

EJ DiMera has always been many things: a ruthless businessman, a shrewd tactician, and a complicated father. But now, as he watches his son Johnny stand trial for a crime he’s convinced the young man didn’t commit, EJ is forced to confront his most painful vulnerability—his fractured memory.

Everyone, from the prosecution to the defense, seems sure Johnny isn’t the one who pulled the trigger. Yet, in the absence of solid proof, suspicion looms, and time is running out. Belle Black, now acting as a trusted advisor, proposes a bold solution: hypnosis. If EJ’s mind is blocking the memory out of trauma, perhaps it can also unlock it.

Enter Marlena Evans—the only one in Salem skilled enough to dive into the subconscious of a man like EJ. And while Marlena has never been EJ’s biggest supporter—especially after everything he’s done to Sami—she agrees to help. Because if there’s a chance to save Johnny, the son of someone she once cared about, she won’t look the other way.

Into the Depths: Marlena Takes a Risk

Hypnosis isn’t magic. It’s messy, unpredictable, and dangerous when emotions run high. EJ sits tensely in Marlena’s office, resisting the idea that he needs help—but also knowing deep down it’s the only way forward.

As Marlena gently guides EJ into hypnosis, fragments of the night he was shot begin to flicker. The sound of footsteps. A shadowed figure. A gun raised. And then—chaos.

But just as the breakthrough seems near, something unexpected happens. EJ becomes distressed, gasping and lashing out, his body trembling with the intensity of whatever he’s seeing. Marlena, sensing real danger to his nervous system, is forced to bring him out of the trance. EJ is left shaken—physically and emotionally.

Did he remember something useful? Or was it just another mental trick, a trauma-induced mirage? The trial is just hours away, and EJ still doesn’t know what side of the truth he stands on.

A Family Under Pressure: The Courtroom Awaits

At the courthouse, the atmosphere is thick with anxiety. Supporters gather, hoping to send a message to the jury that Johnny is innocent. Paulina Price is front and center, whispering to Abe her fears that her son-in-law might become a victim of injustice.

Meanwhile, Johnny maintains his composure, but beneath the surface, he’s unraveling. His relationship with EJ has always been complicated, and now, everything hinges on a memory his father may or may not have recovered.

And just when things couldn’t get more tense… someone else reenters the picture with a bombshell of her own.

Gwen’s Return: A Wild Card in the Mansion

Back at the DiMera mansion, Gwen Rizczech is making herself comfortable once again. Salem has seen her rise, fall, scheme, and survive—and now she’s back on familiar turf. Gwen doesn’t return without a purpose, and her motives are as murky as ever.

While Kristen reunites with Rachel, Gwen bumps into Brady, who’s immediately suspicious. His stare is cold, his tone clipped. But Gwen brushes it off. She knows how to survive in a house full of enemies.

Then, something unexpected happens. As she moves through the corridors of the mansion, Gwen stumbles upon something she wasn’t meant to see—something that could change everything.

Could it be evidence? A discarded item? A clue overlooked by the police? Gwen wasn’t even in town when EJ was shot, but that’s never stopped her from inserting herself into high-stakes drama. And this time, what she’s found could clear Johnny’s name… or make things even worse.

A Dangerous Game: Gwen Holds All the Cards

If there’s one thing Gwen is known for, it’s never giving anything away for free. She doesn’t deal in justice—she deals in leverage. And this new discovery? It could be her ticket to something big.

Now the question becomes: will Gwen go to EJ and offer what she knows? Or will she wait until the moment benefits her most? A bribe, a favor, a place at the DiMera table—whatever the price, Gwen is already calculating it.

EJ, rattled by his hypnosis experience and grasping for answers, may have no choice but to play her game. Pride be damned—if it means saving his son, he’ll pay the price. But that doesn’t mean he’ll forget it.

What If It Wasn’t Johnny? A New Suspect Emerges

As whispers grow louder and new clues emerge, Salem is left to consider the unthinkable: what if Johnny truly is innocent… and someone else has been hiding in plain sight? Could another DiMera—or even an outsider—have had motive enough to shoot EJ?

And if Gwen’s clue leads to a name, what then? Will the trial come to a screeching halt, or will the real culprit double down to protect themselves?

The uncertainty is eating away at the DiMera family from the inside. Bonds are fraying. Trust is cracking. And the truth feels like it’s hiding in the one place no one can reach: deep inside EJ’s haunted mind.

A Legacy at Risk: What’s Next for EJ and Johnny?

EJ has always controlled his narrative. But now, as a father fighting for his son, he’s discovering just how fragile control really is. With every passing hour, the burden of truth grows heavier.

Johnny’s future teeters on the edge. Gwen’s secrets loom large. Marlena’s hypnosis may have opened more questions than answers. And Salem—forever a town where nothing stays buried—waits to see what truth will rise from the ashes of betrayal.

Days of Our Lives is delivering a storyline that’s as gripping as it is emotional—a tale of memory, loyalty, and the high cost of family secrets. As the trial unfolds and the tension tightens, one question remains at the center of it all:

Will EJ remember who really shot him—before it’s too late?