Salem is no stranger to scandal, but on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, “Days of our Lives” turned up the heat with a stunning episode that left hearts broken, loyalties questioned, and the future of several beloved characters hanging by a thread. In true soap fashion, the stakes are higher than ever, and no one — not even the most seasoned Salemite — is safe from betrayal.

Eric and Nicole: A Love Built on Lies?

Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker) has always danced dangerously close to deception, and her latest secret threatens to destroy everything she’s built with Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan). In today’s episode, Eric confronts Nicole after overhearing a mysterious phone call — one that hints she may be hiding something far bigger than he suspected.

Their confrontation is explosive. Eric, heartbroken and furious, demands to know the truth about Nicole’s dealings with Sloan Petersen (Jessica Serfaty). For weeks, Nicole has grown increasingly evasive, and Tuesday’s episode finally pulls back the curtain: she’s been protecting someone — but not for the reason Eric feared.

Through tears, Nicole reveals that she’s been shielding Holly from a scandal involving EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel). But Eric is far from comforted. His trust in Nicole is shaken to its core, and the couple ends the episode on a devastating note, with Eric walking out — uncertain if their love can survive yet another betrayal.

Sloan’s Spiral Begins

Meanwhile, Sloan’s grip on her carefully curated life begins to unravel. The once-calculated lawyer finds herself cornered by Paulina Price (Jackée Harry), who’s grown increasingly suspicious of Sloan’s involvement in her family’s legal woes. Paulina’s instincts are razor-sharp — and today, she turns up the pressure.

Sloan attempts to gaslight Paulina with calm charm, but the cracks in her composure are undeniable. Alone, she makes a desperate phone call to an unnamed associate, pleading for help as she realizes Paulina may be closer to the truth than anyone suspects. Is Sloan finally losing control? The walls are closing in, and it’s only a matter of time before her secrets catch up with her.

EJ and Ava: Dangerous Liaisons

Elsewhere in Salem, EJ DiMera finds himself in a game of cat and mouse with Ava Vitali (Tamara Braun). Following a tense exchange in the DiMera mansion, Ava confronts EJ over the cryptic text messages she intercepted — ones that link him to a hidden offshore account and a potential embezzlement scheme.

EJ, ever the master manipulator, deflects with smooth denial, but Ava’s not buying it. Their scenes crackled with tension as Ava issued a thinly veiled threat: either EJ comes clean, or she exposes him to the board at DiMera Enterprises.

What complicates matters further? The undeniable chemistry that still simmers between them. As they spar, sparks fly — and by episode’s end, the two share a moment of dangerous intimacy. Are they rekindling a fire that never truly burned out, or is this just another strategic entanglement?

Johnny’s Proposal Shocks Chanel

In a more tender — yet equally complex — storyline, Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) stunned Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) with a surprise proposal… but not the kind she expected. Rather than drop to one knee with a ring, Johnny proposed a different kind of future: leaving Salem together.

Reeling from the mounting pressure of her bakery’s legal troubles and the fallout from Paulina’s mayoral scandal, Chanel is tempted by the idea of a fresh start. But Johnny’s timing couldn’t be worse. Just as he made his heartfelt pitch, Talia Hunter (Aketra Sevillian) arrived at Sweet Bits with bombshell news: a new witness has come forward — someone who could either exonerate Chanel or destroy her case entirely.

Caught between love, loyalty, and fear, Chanel is left speechless. Her decision could not only define her future but also redraw the power dynamics in Salem’s younger generation.

Chad and Stephanie: Wedding Bells or Warning Signs?

Across town, Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) and Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) continue to navigate the bumpy road to their impending wedding — but Tuesday’s episode revealed just how shaky their foundation might be.

Stephanie, still grieving the recent loss of her father, Steve Johnson, is distracted and distant. Chad, though sympathetic, begins to worry she’s pulling away for reasons beyond grief. Their interactions are tender but tinged with unease. When Chad finds a crumpled letter from Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) tucked away in Stephanie’s drawer, it reignites old insecurities — and casts a long shadow over their engagement.

The letter — a heartfelt, handwritten message — hints at lingering feelings from Alex. Is Stephanie truly ready to marry Chad, or are echoes of past love threatening to undo everything?

Final Moments: A Knock at the Door Changes Everything

The final moments of Tuesday’s “Days of our Lives” episode delivered a masterclass in suspense. As Nicole sits alone in her apartment, reeling from her confrontation with Eric, there’s a sudden knock at the door. She hesitates. Opens it slowly. And there stands… Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney), back in Salem.

Sami’s return has been rumored for weeks, and her unexpected arrival is set to throw every storyline into chaos. With ties to EJ, Eric, and Nicole, her reemergence couldn’t come at a more volatile time. As she locks eyes with Nicole, one thing is clear: Salem is about to become even more dangerous.

The Fallout to Come

Tuesday’s episode of Days of our Lives laid the groundwork for an explosive summer. Secrets are on the brink of exposure, relationships are on the line, and old rivalries are poised to reignite with renewed fury. Salem has always been a town where history repeats itself — but this time, the consequences could be fatal.

Will Eric forgive Nicole? Can Sloan keep her house of cards from collapsing? Will Ava and EJ’s flirtation become an all-out war? And what does Sami want now that she’s back in town?

Tune in tomorrow as Days of our Lives continues to unravel the tangled web of deception, desire, and redemption — one shocking moment at a time.