Days of our Lives Recap, April 30, 2025: EJ’s discovery rattles him to his core

On Days of our Lives today, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, Chanel and Johnny deal with the fallout of Johnny’s decision, Gabi’s in the hot seat again, Kayla makes a plea, and Cat learns the identify of her mystery date.

What happened on Days of our Lives

In Kayla’s office at the hospital, Kayla ended a call with Kimberly in which she reassured her sister about Bo. A man entered the office whom Kayla referred to as Jeffrey. Kayla confirmed that she had wanted to see the man urgently. Jeffrey took a seat and immediately assumed Kayla had wanted to talk about slashing his research budget. Kayla clarified that she wanted to discuss the doctor’s groundbreaking drug, Versavix; it could be her brother’s only hope.

Jeffrey looked over Bo’s chart and conveyed his sympathies to Kayla. He explained that development of the drug was still too early in the process to attempt a clinical trial on a human. A desperate Kayla suggested they give Bo the drug “under the radar,” or else Bo would die. Jeffrey wanted clarification: Kayla believed her brother should get the drug even if it meant no one else ever could?

Kayla backed off and apologized for making her pitch so forcefully. Jeffrey understood but reiterated that he could not compromise the process. He didn’t intend to add to Kayla’s worries, as he was grateful to Kayla and the hospital. That being said, he wanted to be let out of his contract. When Kayla protested, Jeffrey reminded her that the hospital was in financial distress.

Kayla believed the hospital would make it. “With bake sales and bachelor auctions?” Jeffrey retorted. The investors that were interested in him had much deeper pockets than the hospital. Kayla accused him of selling out to “Big Pharma,” but he defended that it was about more than money for him; he had the opportunity to save countless lives. Jeffrey told Kayla he’d say a prayer for Bo and then left.

In EJ’s hospital room, Susan scolded EJ for getting out of bed. As he thought back to finding the recording device at the mansion. EJ insisted he had important things to do. Susan pressed him, so EJ said he needed to make amends with Johnny after what his son had learned about him. Despite Susan’s belief that Johnny would come around, EJ remained steadfast that he needed to see his son in person.

Susan didn’t want EJ going back to the place where he had been shot. EJ believed Ava had probably shot him, and she was out of town and no longer a danger. Ava might not be, Susan agreed, but “that vengeful little minx” Gabi was still very much a threat.

Following Susan's departure, Kayla came to check on EJ. He immediately requested a discharge. After a bit of banter, Kayla acquiesced and agreed to discharge EJ if he would sign a document confirming he was checking out against medical advice.

At the Brady Pub, Chad complimented Leo on his article about EJ’s shooting. Chad was none too happy when Leo made a crack about the shooting driving up readership, but he was intrigued when Leo suggested that the police were looking at the wrong suspect in Ava. Chad wanted Leo to do some investigative reporting and identify the shooter.

Later, at Rafe’s house, Gabi mulled her options for wresting control of Gabi Chic from Xander and Philip. She got a call from Arianna and confirmed her plans to attend Arianna’s impending high school graduation. Gabi’s mood soured when Leo strolled through the door. The duo quickly began snarking at each other about Leo’s prospects of becoming a serious journalist. Leo bragged his future as a reporter would be sealed after he broke open the EJ case.

Gabi reminded Leo that Ava was the prime suspect, but Leo wasn’t buying it. He intended to give the cops a more “viable” suspect. When Gabi asked who, Leo replied with a smirk, “I’m looking at her.” Gabi was outraged that Leo would accuse her of murder in her own home. JJ had, too, Leo supplied.

Leo recalled encountering Gabi after the shooting, when she had acted very much like “an unhinged wildebeast.” He also remembered all the threats and insults Gabi had lobbed EJ’s way. Gabi fiercely affirmed to the “ridiculous little twerp” that she was innocent, but she looked unsettled. Gabi threatened to punch Leo and throw him out of the house if he wrote one word against her in the paper. Leo suggested Gabi relieve her stress by hopping into bed with her hunky date, Alex.

The exchange of insults continued with Gabi eventually proclaiming “Once a thief, always a thief” in regards to Leo, and Leo volleying back “Once a bitch, always a bitch” to Gabi. When Gabi stormed upstairs, Leo eyed her purse. After a brief debate with himself about journalist ethics, Leo began rummaging through the purse's contents. Gabi caught him red-handed and commanded, “What the hell are you doing?”

At the DiMera mansion, Johnny awoke from sleeping on the couch, thought back to his fight with Chanel, and groaned. Just then, Paulina entered the room, demanding answers. Johnny explained he had slept on the couch because he didn’t want to sleep in a room that reminded him of Chanel. Paulina had a solution: Johnny could stop “sulking,” get his “narrow behind” back to her place, and make things right with her daughter. It wasn’t that simple, according to Johnny.

Paulina argued that Johnny shouldn’t punish himself for his father’s sins. “I am his sin,” Johnny shot back. Paulina reminded Johnny of the joy and happiness he had felt when he had been planning a family with Chanel. He shouldn’t let his father steal that joy away, especially since EJ had already taken so much. Paulina urged Johnny to fight for his happiness and his marriage.

Later, Susan stopped by and shared a hug-filled reunion with Johnny. He wouldn’t consider Susan’s suggestion that he see his dad. He needed to focus on salvaging his relationship with Chanel. Susan had faith that Johnny would reconcile with both Chanel and EJ. Johnny dismissed the latter hope as a “lost cause”…just as EJ arrived home, with a cane in hand.

After Johnny harshly inquired why EJ was there, EJ explained that he’d convinced Kayla to let him recover at home. Susan cajoled Johnny and EJ to have a conversation, but Johnny again declared EJ dead to him and left. As Johnny walked past her, Susan recoiled. EJ asked what was wrong, and Susan insisted Johnny had a secret. “It’s bad, bad, bad,” she ominously added.

In Horton Town Square, Chanel approached Cat and Felicity, who were having a celebratory meal. Chanel congratulated Felicity on her gold medal, and Cat expressed gratitude to Chanel for showing up for the medal ceremony. When Felicity innocently mentioned that Chanel had something to celebrate as well – Chanel and Johnny adopting a baby – Chanel grew upset and ran off, leaving Cat puzzled. A few moments later, Chanel returned and apologized for her abrupt exit; she had been upset. “About being a mommy?” Felicity asked.

Chanel admitted she was not going to be a mother, adding “not now, and maybe not ever.” When Felicity wondered if Chanel wouldn’t be adopting Sophia’s baby after all, Cat gently compelled her sister to drop the subject. Felicity said she was sorry. Chanel assured Felicity she was okay, but her smile faltered.

Paulina provided a needed distraction when she approached and made small talk with Felicity about her gold medal, which Felicity had been wearing since she had won it. After Cat and Felicity departed, Chanel lamented to Paulina that her family had ended before it had even begun. Paulina updated Chanel on her talk with Johnny, and she promised Chanel she hadn’t overstepped with her son-in-law. Paulina had just wanted to reinforce one message to Johnny: don’t let EJ ruin the marriage. She wanted to give the same piece of advice to Chanel.

Chanel sat down with Paulina and confided how frustrating it had been that Johnny had sprung his decision on her without ever mentioning it or talking it through with her. He had known how much she had wanted to become a mother, especially after she had lost their first baby. “I have a hole in my heart, and he put it there,” Chanel said. She didn’t know if she could ever get past what Johnny had done.

Paulina pleaded with Chanel to remember her wedding vows: “for better or worse.” Chanel felt that she’d only been experiencing “the worse” part. Paulina reminded Chanel that she had a partner who had pledged to love her “for all eternity,” which was “the best” vow of all. As Chanel cried softly, Paulina affirmed her belief that if Chanel and Johnny supported, comforted, and forgave each other, their love would survive.

Later, Chanel stood sadly outside the bakery. When she locked eyes with Johnny, she rushed inside.

Across the square, Chad greeted Cat and Felicity and high-fived Felicity for her big win. Felicity attributed her success to Cat’s help and called her sister amazing. When Chad concurred, Felicity demurred, “You think my sister’s amazing too, huh?” An embarrassed Cat ushered Felicity to the school bus as Chad smiled.

Cat apologized to Chad on behalf of her sister. He brushed off Felicity’s remarks and turned the topic to the fundraiser. Cat said Charlotte must be relieved that Chad’s date was with Maggie. Chad made a joke about his “hot date” and asked Cat about her own “hot date.” Cat didn’t know yet.

At that moment, Cat received confirmation on her phone. She was going on a date with EJ DiMera. “That son of a bitch,” Chad muttered.

Back at the mansion, Susan persisted she'd felt something “dark” when Johnny had left. EJ dismissed the bad vibes as Johnny’s anger and asked his mother if she could use her powers to help him locate something “of great importance.” But he suddenly remembered slipping the recording device into a drawer and told Susan to forget about it. After Susan went upstairs, EJ painfully made his way to the table where the device was hidden.

EJ opened his laptop and plugged in the device. He pressed play, and a black and white scene came into focus. It was Johnny, standing in the doorway and pointing a gun. The video went black. “Oh, Giovanni, no” was all a distressed EJ could muster in reply.

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