Interrupting Chad and Stephanie’s amorous breakfast, Alex asks Stephanie to the meeting with Yuri alone. He’s not up for it or anything else these days because of Victor. The last time he saw his late uncle was when he lost the CEO job to Maggie. Alex recalls being petty and vindictive, and he’s trying to find a way to live with that. Chad sharply wonders if his solution is to wallow in his guilt.
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Chad’s not trying to be insensitive, but he understands what it’s like to want to shut yourself off from the world while grieving. But Alex has to find a way to move through it. Chad suggests burying the hatchet with Maggie is how he can honor Victor’s memory. Alex says he’s right and thanks him. After he leaves, Stephanie kisses Chad because that was exactly what Alex needed — a friend. Chad bristles. It’s too soon for that, he quips.
From the mansion, Kristen talks on the phone with the von Leuschner lawyer, Elliot Roth. He asks if Dimitri is back so he can legitimize his marriage. He’s not yet, but Kristen reminds him they need to keep the inheritance a secret from certain prying eyes.
After passionately kissing in their bedroom, Gabi and Stefan confirm they need to focus on finding out what’s going on in their house — starting with Elliot Roth. Grinning, Stefan declares she’s hot as hell as a detective. When they figure out what Kristen and company are up to, Gabi vows they won’t come out of their room for a month. That works for Stefan, who goes in for another kiss.
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Downstairs, Dimitri and Gwen stroll into the living room arm in arm. After learning Leo turned up on their honeymoon, Kristen asks why they’re back early. Gwen thinks Kristen knows exactly why they are back. A nervous Dimitri jumps in to say he and Kristen need to strategize before the DiMera board meeting since their shares have created a power block.
After Gwen goes to unpack, Kristen mocks Dimitri using Madonna as a cover for Leo’s presence during his honeymoon. She muses there’s actually something real between him and Leo. Dimitri lies that Leo just showed up, insisting he’s stringing him along until he gets his windfall. Kristen corrects him, “When we get our windfall.” And that can only happen if Dimitri can convince Mr. Roth that his marriage is legit. Since Roth wants to meet him and Gwen, how is he going to keep his bride in the dark?
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In the Square, Leo rants about returning to the Salem Inn alone, while Gwen’s in a mansion with his boyfriend. He literally runs into Sonny. Leo’s face softens as he offers condolences for Victor. An unmoved Sonny doesn’t have the energy to deal with his act. Leo declares he cried when he heard the news because of how sad he was for Sonny. “Is that why you reached out?” Sonny spits back.
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Leo apologizes, but knows that Sonny’s really upset with him because he helped Xander cover up what he did to Bonnie. Sonny rips into him for that, insinuating that Leo’s a narcissist. Leo insists he has emotions like everyone else. In fact, he’s fallen head over heels in love with a rich, gorgeous man. Sonny doesn’t buy it so Leo shows him a picture of a toned torso. Unconvinced, Sonny wonders why he’s even still standing there. “Because we’re friends,” Leo says, hopefully. Aghast, Sonny reminds Leo he betrayed him and their friendship by traumatizing his father and stepmother. That comes with a cost.
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Rachel comes to see Stefan in his room, where he convinces her to continue her and Gabi’s game of 20 questions. But they have to keep it quiet. He gets her to confirm that Kristen’s secret is about Dimitri, who is having sleepovers with someone who isn’t Gwen. When Rachel says he has nine questions left, Kristen arrives. Stefan explains to a wary Kristen they were playing a super fun game.
When Gabi comes to Elliot Roth’s Salem Inn room, he goes along with her assumption that he’s the headmaster of Rachel’s new school. However, she trips him up, forcing him to admit the truth about Dimitri’s inheritance.
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Returning to an anxious Dimitri in the living room, Gwen assures her husband they can work out whatever’s wrong. Dimitri starts to confess, but a text message from Leo interrupts him. In it, Leo encourages Dimitri to “fake it till he makes it.” Dimitri composes himself and lies to Gwen that Kristen made a deal with another shareholder. He says he’s going to run an errand to clear his head. She passive-aggressively clasps his face and tells him to “do you” because he’s got this. She tersely says she can’t wait to hear how he figures it out.
Alex and Sonny embrace when the brothers meet up in the Kiriakis living room. They find a photo album of Victor and page through it. Photos flash of John Aniston with his co-stars through the years.
Gabi rushes home to exchange information with Stefan. Stefan deduces Kristen is getting a cut of Dimitri’s inheritance, which leads Gabi to assume Kristen knows who he’s having sleepovers with. “All we have to do is figure out her name,” Gabi says, “and then, we’re in the driver’s seat.”
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Dimitri comes to Leo’s room, stressing that if he can’t figure out something fast about the lawyer, it’s all over. He paces while admitting he almost told Gwen the truth. Leo knows she would be very unforgiving if he found out they were both lying to her. Taking inspiration from Leo’s “fake it to you make it” text, Dimitri suggests they find someone to pose as Gwen. He needs someone he can trust implicitly. Leo gasps. “What about me?”
At the mansion, an exasperated Gwen accidentally breaks her drinking glass. She rants as Kristen enters. When Kristen astutely notes she’s upset, Gwen angrily wonders why wouldn’t she be upset. Kristen assumes Dimitri told her everything. “What are you talking about?” Gwen pointedly asks.
Next on Days of Our Lives, Dimitri’s skeptical of Leo’s plan, and Belle pleads with Brady.
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Remember the beloved daytime actors we’ve lost this year in the photo gallery below.
