Days of our Lives Recap, July 14, 2025: Holly and Arianna are kidnapped

On Days of our Lives today, Monday, July 14, 2025, Doug’s problems go from bad to worse, Sophia sees her son again, and Xander and Sarah reach an impasse.

What Happened on Days of our Lives

At Rafe’s house, Gabi gave an annoyed Arianna a lecture about packing everything she needed and staying safe on the lake trip. When Gabi left the room to fetch something for her daughter, Javi – who had been watching with amusement at the table while feeding the baby – encouraged Arianna to give her mom a break. Gabi was just worried about her, and Javi understood after handling so many cases involving teenagers as a paramedic. Arianna promised she wouldn’t get into any trouble.

Gabi returned with a paper bag. Arianna gasped “Mom!” when she peered inside. Gabi insisted Arianna needed to keep herself safe with all the “cute boys” who would be at the lake. Gabi apologized for being “extra” and asked Arianna if she would keep in touch via text. Arianna softened and pledged she would.

When they were alone again, Arianna said her goodbyes to Javi and “little T.” She observed how attached Javi was getting to the baby, and Javi conceded that the baby had captured his heart. Later, Gabi got off a work call and groused about her job – which she would be stuck at for another two years – to Javi. He advised his “prima” to “tough it out.”

At the Kiriakis mansion, Sarah was enraged to learn that Xander had taken Victoria. She told Maggie she wouldn’t let Xander control them and instructed Maggie to pack for their trip. Despite Maggie’s caution, Sarah stormed off to confront Xander.

At Titan-DiMera, Xander called Melinda and told her there would be no more compromise. He wanted Melinda to ensure he would never be away from his daughter again. After he ended the call, Xander approached Victoria’s crib and pondered what father and daughter should do with their day. From the doorway, Sarah snapped that Xander could begin with returning the girl to her mother.

Xander pulled Sarah aside and urged her to stay quiet. The exes immediately began arguing about what was best for Victoria. Xander didn’t believe Sarah had just wanted to take their daughter on a trip, not after she had tried to “entrap” him into an attempted murder confession. The argument devolved into a back-and-forth about Xander’s culpability in Philip’s beating. Xander vowed Sarah would be sorry because he was the one in control.

Sarah again expressed frustration that their civil conversation from the previous night had devolved so quickly. Xander reiterated his suspicions and brought up Sarah’s prior mentor instability. Sarah couldn’t believe Xander would throw her past in her face, especially considering she had been drugged…once courtesy of Xander’s girlfriend. An unmoved Xander told Sarah she could see herself out. Just then, Gabi arrived at the office.

Sarah tearfully said goodbye to Victoria and left. Victoria got fussy, and Gabi mentioned that babies always cried for their moms at that age. Xander seemed slightly guilty at the comment.

Sarah returned to the Kirakis mansion and informed Maggie the trip was off. Maggie offered her support as Sarah cried on her shoulder about missing Victoria.

In Horton Town Square, Tate and Holly excitedly made plans for their lake trip. Holly said she would be driving with Arianna, while Tate braced himself to break the news that he’d be out of town to Sophia. Later, Holly arrived home and briefly chatted with Maggie. Holly immediately noticed that something was bothering Maggie.

Maggie assured Holly she’d be fine and turned the conversation to Holly’s trip. Maggie gave her granddaughter a talk about being responsible since she’d be gone for a week, unsupervised. Holly understood Maggie’s concern because of the overdose, but Holly promised nothing like that would ever happen again and that she’d be safe on the trip. Grandmother and granddaughter shared a hug.

In Sophia’s bedroom, Sophia read aloud the letter she’d written to her baby: “Dear Son, When you read this someday, I hope you’ll know how much I love you, and that my decision to give you up came from that love and wanting you to have the best life possible. Still, letting you go was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

Later, Sophia heard Tate calling for her outside the door, hopped into her bed, and quickly covered up. Tate entered the room and asked if something had happened with her, but Sophia just attributed her tenseness to being tired. Tate eventually admitted he had come to tell Sophia that he would be away at the lake for the day. “So you can be with Holly?” Sophia asked. Tate confirmed that Holly would be there, along with the rest of their senior class.

Tate said he felt bad about Sophia missing so much and offered to stay with her. Sophia urged Tate to go, as it’d be a good distraction for him after his grandpa’s death. She’d be fine, and she’d call him immediately if she went into labor.

Following Tate’s departure, Sophia called Melinda and told the lawyer they’d received a stroke of good luck. Tate would be out of town for the day, which would give Sophia and Melinda the opportunity to implement their plan without worrying about Tate’s interference.

At the Brady Pub, Doug took Leo up on his invitation for a breakfast break. Doug asked Leo about the necklace, and Leo informed him the buyer of the necklace had come to Salem…only to rub the purchase in Julie’s face. Doug was disappointed since he’d believed having the necklace back would ease Julie’s anger at him. He was surprised to find out that Leo knew the woman who’d purchased the necklace and begged Leo to reason with her. Leo said he’d tried, but Gwen hated him and half the town – including the Hortons.

Leo yawned and explained baby-sitting duties were limiting his sleep. Before Doug returned to work, Leo asked him for an update on his “other problem.” Doug admitted he’d barely “made a dent” in his payments to the loan shark. Leo was sorry he couldn’t offer any more financial help, but Doug was grateful for what Leo had already done. And Doug was working on an idea to take care of the problem.

Later, Sophia went to Horton Town Square – with her pregnancy pad intact – and froze when she saw Javi and Leo pushing a baby stroller. Sophia approached and introduced herself, then claimed she had seen Javi’s picture in the paper. She had wanted to thank him for his service. Javi was friendly and said he was taking care of the baby with his boyfriend Leo.

When Javi called the baby “Tesaro,” he explained to Sophia that he’d given the child a temporary name that meant “treasure” in Spanish. Javi made small talk about Sophia’s own imminent baby arrival, but Sophia grew emotional and excused herself.

Elsewhere in the square, Doug called the loan shark and asked for more time. Doug claimed he could get the man a piece of jewelry that would be worth much more than what he owed. The man issued another warning to Doug and hung up.

Arianna approached and asked who had Doug so bothered. Doug started to tell Arianna something but begged off after she updated him on her upcoming late trip. Doug wished Arianna a good time and gave her a goodbye kiss.

As soon as Doug left the scene, Holly showed up, ready to join Arianna on the car ride up to the lake. The friends went through the park to meet Tate while Arianna filled Holly in on her mom’s “gift” of a jumbo-sized box of condoms. Their laughter promptly ended, though, when a gun-wielding masked man ambushed them. He ordered Holly and Arianna to come with him.

Later, the girls pleaded for their freedom in an alley. The man demanded they stand against the brick wall behind them.

Back in the park, Tate was worried when Holly failed to show up. He texted her.

Meanwhile, at the pub, Doug got another call from the loan shark. The man cut him off and hinted at an “insurance policy,” then instructed Doug to check his phone messages. Doug was alarmed when a picture of Holly and Arianna – in obvious distress – popped up on the screen.

Doug implored the man to let the girls go, and the man coolly responded he would…as soon as Doug coughed up the money or the necklace. The loan shark left Doug with a final ominous warning: “Clock’s ticking, Dougie Boy. Don’t keep me or these pretty girls waiting.”

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