Salem heats up today with heartfelt reunions, awkward confrontations, and emotional discoveries. As the town buzzes around a successful fundraiser, the drama doesn’t skip a beat, weaving through romance, resentment, and long-buried secrets.

Chad and Cat find joy in the success of the event, taking a moment to celebrate not only the fundraiser’s achievement but also how it’s brought them closer together. Their bond grows stronger, but just as things seem peaceful, JJ joins them and reveals a bombshell—he accused Gabby of attempted murder. The tension thickens. Though Thomas pops in to pull his dad away for some fair fun, Cat takes the opportunity to remind JJ that forgiveness is possible. She urges him to believe Gabby will forgive him, just as Chad forgave her. Then, before JJ can respond, she’s gone.

JJ moves on to the pub, hoping to question EJ. He asks Kayla for access to the recovering patient, while Maggie arrives to greet them. Meanwhile, Cat returns to Chad and Thomas, helping sign the child up for carnival games. Maggie and Chad share a moment as he mentions Stephanie is trying to calm Charlotte’s separation anxiety during lunch, leaving him free to participate in the bachelor auction. Their peaceful talk takes a twist when Maggie softly notes that Charlotte understands Chad can never replace Abigail.

Nearby, Xander shows up with hot dogs for Sarah, who is clearly troubled after an interaction with Philip. Though she brushes it off as just being polite in public, Xander sees right through it. Tensions rise when Maggie joins them, and Xander shares his anger over Philip’s past betrayal. After Sarah makes a mess, Xander runs off for napkins, giving Maggie a chance to talk heart-to-heart with her daughter. Sarah struggles with whether or not to reveal a secret, regretting that she didn’t confide in her mother earlier.

Rachel lightens the mood by dragging Sarah to play games, but the calm doesn’t last. When Xander returns, Maggie stops him to ask what he plans to do about Philip. Xander admits he’s holding back only because of the DEA, but Maggie urges compassion, believing Victor would’ve wanted peace between them. Xander, however, is not convinced.

Elsewhere, Kristen is rattled by EJ’s condition and plans to leave the fundraiser. But Rachel convinces her to stay and play with the kids. Kristen eventually visits EJ in the hospital, angrily demanding answers about her mother’s whereabouts. EJ plays innocent, swearing he knows nothing. Yet, he expresses hope that she finds her soon. Kristen is suspicious of his new gentle tone, thinking maybe the coma changed him.

EJ explains he’s been reflecting and doesn’t want to be the same man he used to be. Kristen scoffs at the thought, accusing him of weakness, and even speculates Gabby might have been the one who shot him. EJ admits he might even forgive Kristen if she did it—an admission that stuns her. Just as tensions peak, Kayla and JJ walk in, prompting Kristen to storm off.

JJ tries to get answers from EJ, but he doesn’t recall much from the night he was shot, blaming the blackout on alcohol. Kayla suspects the injury affected his memory, not the drinking. He recalls Kristen and Chanel being present but nothing definitive. Kayla later tells JJ they didn’t get much, but suggests he return to the fundraiser.

JJ gets a cryptic text from Ballistics: the bullet doesn’t match Ava’s gun, but she still can’t be ruled out. Meanwhile, Kristen returns to the fair, only to be greeted by a jubilant Rachel who just won a teddy bear. Kristen makes a snide comment about borrowing Xander since Sarah borrowed Rachel. When Xander brushes her off, she throws her drink on him in frustration.

Back at the auction, Kayla apologizes for the event running long, announcing Chad as the final live bachelor. Maggie surprises everyone by throwing up her paddle and bidding a whopping $1 million. Chad is stunned, but Maggie insists she expects a full date experience—dinner and all.

Later, Rachel teases Xander about Kristen’s “accidental” drink toss, but Xander plays it off, removing his soaked shirt. Kristen is visibly flustered and quickly retreats with Rachel. Sarah, amused and a little turned on, suggests heading home for some playful carnival games of their own.

But drama strikes again when Rachel spots Cat and Chad and mistakes Cat for Abigail. Kristen tries to clarify, but the damage is done—Cat is visibly upset, and Chad walks away, clearly affected.

Meanwhile, JJ makes a call to Tripp, hoping to talk to Ava. Tripp reveals she’s gone off to a Tibetan monastery, leaving JJ without answers once again. At the hospital, EJ appears shaken as we flash back to a hidden device concealed inside a statue. “Oh my God,” EJ gasps—a bug planted by Rafe.

As the episode draws to a close, Thursday’s events promise even more shockwaves. EJ’s strange demeanor hints at deeper secrets, and Kristen’s confrontations leave questions lingering. JJ remains hopeful that Gabby might forgive him, but the silence from her side says otherwise. Across town, Maggie tries once more to soothe the rift between Xander and Philip, while Chad continues to wrestle with his heart over Abigail—and whether he’s ready to love again.

One thing is certain—in Salem, every revelation comes with a twist.