Days of our Lives Recap, July 22, 2025: Sophia tells Tate they had a daughter

Here's your Days of our Lives recap for what happened on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, when Sophia told Tate they had a daughter, Stephanie accepted EJ's job offer, EJ attempted to bribe Leo, and Kayla suggested to Sarah that Xander take anger management classes with Marlena.

What happened on Days of our Lives

In Stephanie’s apartment, Alex talked to her about the book launch. Stephanie was leery of doing interviews and podcasts, but Alex assured her that they would take precautions to protect her identity. Alex asked Stephanie to approve the use of a passage from the book for the promotion. Stephanie refused. Alex asked what was wrong. Stephanie explained that the situation was overwhelming.

Kayla was talking to Bo on the phone in her office when EJ walked in. EJ chided Kayla for taking a personal call at work, and Kayla argued that she had been talking to Bo about his recovery thanks to Versavix. “I mean, after all, it’s the only reason you got your greedy little hands on this hospital, right?” Kayla said. “Is that any way to talk to your superior?” EJ asked. EJ told Kayla that he wanted to take over her office.

“We are running short of office space for the moment, EJ, but you know I suppose it would not be any trouble to spruce up a little utility closet,” Kayla said. Kayla argued that although EJ owned the hospital, she ran it. “Correction. You used to run it. Into the ground by all accounts,” EJ said. Kayla reminded EJ that Seth Burns had handled the budget. Kayla argued that EJ’s changes had only lowered morale.

“Trim the fat and figure out how to do more with less,” EJ ordered. Kayla told EJ that if he did not give her the autonomy to run the hospital, she would quit. “I don’t take too kindly to threats,” EJ said. Kayla noted that she only stayed because she still cared about her patients and the staff of the hospital. EJ scoffed.

“I have never done this job for the prestige or the money, and I will not continue to do it if I have to defer to somebody that I not only disrespect, but despise. So it’s your choice, actually, EJ. You either accept my resignation, or you back the hell off,” Kayla growled. EJ reiterated that he needed Kayla’s office for his meeting. With a scowl, Kayla walked out.

At the nurses’ station, Javi talked to Sarah about Ari and Holly’s rescue. Sarah asked about Tesoro. “I’m dreading having to give him up to a new family. Leo and I have grown really attached to him,” Javi said. Sarah told Javi that she had once given up a child. Javi apologized for upsetting Sarah. With a shake of her head, Sarah said her emotion was about the fact that Victoria was with Xander. “I miss her so much,” Sarah said.

At the Hernandez house, Leo fed Tesoro and talked to him about Johnny’s case. Leo worried aloud that if he convicted Johnny, EJ would have him killed. When Javi returned home, Leo asked about Ari. Javi noted that Ari was okay. “And Doug?” Leo asked. “Rafe said that he left after questioning,” Javi said. Javi asked Leo if he had known that Doug’s loan shark had targeted Ari and Holly. Leo swore that he had not known that Doug had been involved with Ari. Javi told Leo that he believed him, but he did not know why Leo had helped Doug.

“Because maybe if somebody had helped me when I was his age, I would have turned my life around a whole lot sooner. I don’t know,” Leo said. Leo told Javi that Doug had needed someone to believe in him the way John and Marlena had believed that Leo could change. “I believe in you too,” Javi said. Leo promised that he was not the dirtbag he had once been.

“You have changed me, Javi, for the better,” Leo said. Leo told Javi that unlike before, he was fully open and honest with Javi. “The same way that I know you are with me,” Leo added.

At the hospital, Sarah called Xander to demand to see Victoria. “It is not the same thing as when I did it to you. I was justified!” Sarah yelled. Kayla walked over. Sarah apologized to Kayla for having been unprofessional. “This is your daughter we’re talking about, and you have every right to be furious at Xander,” Kayla said. Sarah noted that the separation was not as serious as a kidnapping.

“Even if you know exactly where Victoria is and she is not in any kind of danger, the father of your child is still forcefully keeping you from seeing her, and that is so, so painful. And no mother, no parent, should ever have to go through that,” Kayla said. Sarah thanked Kayla for the support. Kayla confessed that EJ’s budget cuts were so severe that she believed that Xander might have been the lesser of two evils. “I’m sorry. I never should have said that,” Kayla said. Sarah said she understood.

“I don’t know that Xander would be a much better boss. His temper has been out of control lately,” Sarah said. “Are you worried for Victoria’s safety?” Kayla asked. Sarah hesitated, but she said no. “But I am scared that his rage is blinding him so much that anyone can get caught in the crossfire,” Sarah said. Sarah admitted that she felt like an idiot for having had a child with someone so volatile.

When Stephanie arrived at the hospital for her meeting with EJ, she was surprised to see EJ at Kayla’s desk. “[Kayla] lent it out to me for our meeting,” EJ said. “Somehow I doubt that,” Stephanie muttered. With a shrug, EJ asked Stephanie if she had decided to accept the hospital as a PR client. “Under certain conditions,” Stephanie said. Stephanie refused to undermine Kayla or act unethically. EJ agreed to Stephanie’s terms. As Stephanie and EJ shook hands, Kayla returned to the room.

“You didn’t take any of my advice and you accepted this job with EJ,” Kayla said. Stephanie said yes. Kayla warned EJ not to attempt to corrupt her daughter.. EJ stressed that he had hired Stephanie for her PR talent.

Kayla went to the nurses’ station and told Sarah about EJ’s meeting with Stephanie, and she noted that she was worried about her daughter. Sarah said she understood. When Sarah mentioned again how painful it was to be separated from Victoria by Xander, Kayla asked Sarah if Xander had ever spoken to a psychiatrist.

“Xander’s not the type to open up about his feelings. Let alone to a stranger,” Sarah said. “If you two want to successfully co-parent, I think that [Xander] needs to get his rage in check, and I do know that Marlena offers intense anger management counseling,” Kayla said.

As Leo walked through the square, he ran into EJ. “You and I need to have a little chat,” EJ said. Leo reminded EJ that they should not be talking. EJ hinted at a bribe. “Leo Stark is not for sale. Not anymore,” Leo said. Leo rushed home, and he told Javi about EJ’s bribe. “I’m proud of you for standing up to that jerk,” Javi said.

When Stephanie returned home, she informed Alex that she was officially handling the PR for the hospital. Stephanie noted that Kayla had appeared unhappy with Stephanie’s decision. “What’s this?” Stephanie said as she pointed to a package. “No card, no note. You got a secret admirer you’re not telling me about?” Alex asked. Stephanie laughed.

Tate rushed into the penthouse, and he told Brady that Sophia had gone into labor. When Tate noted that he had not heard the voicemail earlier because he had been worried about Holly and Ari’s kidnapping, Brady went wide-eyed. “What are you talking about?” Brady said. Tate assured his father that Holly and Ari were safe.

In Chicago, Sophia told Melinda that she was struggling with the guilt over lying about her baby. “I will be with you every step of the way,” Melinda said. “Tate is going to be so heartbroken. And suspicious,” Sophia said. Melinda argued that Tate would never know about his baby’s fate.

“Are you sure? Because when I was in the square and I saw [the baby], I knew right away it was him,” Sophia said. “We’re going to make sure that people don’t make that connection,” Melinda said. Melinda urged Sophia to live her life knowing that the baby would be placed in a loving home.

Brady and Tate were about to leave for Chicago when Sophia called. Tate asked Sophia if she was okay, and she said she was fine. Sophia explained that she had given birth to a baby girl, and that she would be home soon. Brady asked Tate how he felt.

“I don’t know. All I know is I can’t wait to meet her,” Tate said. Tate argued that his decision to go to the lake was proof that he had not been ready to be a parent. Brady countered that if Tate had not been at the lake, he would not have been able to save Holly and Ari.

“I guess that’s right. It’s just, why didn’t Sophia wait for me to meet with this couple?” Tate said. Brady suggested that Sophia had been anxious to move on. Brady noted that the quicker the baby was placed with adoptive parents, the sooner Sophia and Tate could move on with their lives. Tate confessed he did not believe he would ever stop thinking about his daughter. Tate wondered aloud if the adoptive parents had been there for the birth.

“It’s kind of great if that’s the case, right? Once they adopt this baby, they are her parents. You understand?” Brady said. Tate groaned. Brady told Tate that it was okay to feel all the emotions, and that he would be there by Tate’s side. When Sophia arrived at the penthouse, Tate asked about the baby. “She’s gone, Tate,” Sophia said.

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