The rowdy race between Abe and Jack is finally over when Salem's (surprising) new mayor is decisively declared...
The now-former mayoral candidates must move on from the election, but that's easier said than done for Haley, who's in the hot seat
Haley is set to be deported, and that doesn't sit well with most of Salem, especially J.J. and (shockingly) Melinda
A surprisingly emotional Melinda makes a mammoth admission when she tells Haley the truth about their relationship...
Melinda explains the depths of how much she loves Haley and that she's not her sister -- she's her mother
Haley reels from Melinda's mother of a confession and learns more about why Melinda kept their real relationship a secret
Yet, what's done is done, and a disheartened Haley must accept her deportation despite Melinda's desire to turn things around
Jennifer meets a miserable Melinda in the park and expresses her anguish and anger over what's happened to Haley
Jennifer is surprised when Melinda makes it known who she blames for Haley's hard time and that she's Haley's mother (not sister)
Speaking with Jennifer, a gun-wielding Melinda declares she's going to do whatever it takes to help her daughter
As Melinda seeks retribution for her daughter, Jack hopes that all is not lost between him and his son now that the election is over
J.J. surely doesn't feel the same way as Jack and takes a swing at his father, whom he blames for everything miserable happening to his loved ones
J.J. and Haley are in pure misery as they are forced to say goodbye while the agents ready her for deportation
Wondering what could have been between them, J.J. and Haley kiss one another then make a bold move by hastily fleeing Salem
J.J. and Haley are now fugitives, but Jennifer believes the real criminals are Jack and Eve, and she holds them accountable for their wicked ways
Noticing that Claire has gone a little mad, a concerned Tripp becomes even more worried when he recognizes Claire and Eve are cohorts
Claire nearly falls apart when an enraged Tripp trashes her and blames her for everything that's happened to Haley
Ciara is there to pick up the pieces and console Claire, who is left heartbroken by Tripp's actions
Hope has a strong reaction when she spots Rafe having lunch with Lani and David and, more so, without his wedding ring
Learning Rafe's ring is at the bottom of a ravine makes Hope realize that her marred marriage to Rafe is officially over
With divorce on her mind, Hope reaches out to Belle and, later, Rafe is a bit taken aback by being handed the official papers
Divorce isn't the only disaster to befall Hope, however, as her job as commissioner is also taken away by the higher-ups
Divorcing and fired may make Hope even easier prey for Ted, while Will and Sonny pray for good news about his condition
Kayla comes to a conclusion about the cause of Will's troublesome brain tumor, and the answer may pose more questions
Lani uses some questionable tactics when Ciara expresses to her that Ben would like to have a bigger presence in David's life
Ciara doesn't question Lani's lies but worries about Ben, as she knows how special bonding with David is to him
As Lani starts to weave a tangled web while over-bonding with David, Xander continues to slither around Salem and stir up trouble
Xander's tryst with Sarah still seems to be sweet on his mind, and he hopes for more than a one-night stand with the good doctor
Sarah doesn't exactly feel the same way about Xander, though, and lets him know what he can do with his offer
Xander has plenty of tricks up his sneaky sleeve, and Nicole finds out the hard way that he still has her right where he wants her
With hopes that Xander will grant Nicole a divorce, Brady must play ball with the cheeky Kiriakis black sheep
Nevertheless, Brady isn't blind to Xander's backstabbing ways and keeps a keen eye on his callous cousin
Victor may want to keep an eye on Maggie, as her hard time coping with Holly's death is pushing her to the brink
Xander's mere presence pushes Eric too far, and he lets Xander know how he feels with a thundering right hook
With Nicole continuing to blame Eric for Holly's death, he has a hard time coping with such deep despair
Sarah steps in with solace for Eric then goes to Nicole with faith that the mourning mother can find it in her heart to forgive Eric
A forlorn Nicole isn't exactly in the forgiving mood, as Chloe finds out when her former bestie blasts her again over Holly's death
Gabi may believe she has Stefan right where she wants him, but his mind continues to drift to thoughts of a life with Chloe
In fact, Stefan breaks the bad news to Gabi that their several "one time only" rolls in the hay have come to an end
Still, Gabi isn't so easy to give up on a scheme and remains confident that she'll snag Stefan one way or another
Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley return to Days of our Lives
Kate Mansi and Billy Flynn return to Days of our Lives
Stephen Nichols returns to Days of our Lives
Paul Telfer on reprising his role as Days of our Lives' "cheeky criminal" Xander
Bryan Dattilo returns to Days of our Lives, admits he's surprised about being asked back to Salem
Here comes trouble! Stacy Haiduk and Paul Telfer return as Days of our Lives duo Kristen and Xander
Olivia Rose Keegan to exit DAYS
DAYS shocker: Nadia Bjorlin to exit the role of Chloe Lane
Ben begins to catch on to Claire's cunning ways while Chloe catches Stefan and Gabi in a compromising position
Dedicated to David, Lani starts to weave a web of deception, but Rafe realizes her stories don't add up
As Maggie's life seems to be spiraling out of control, Will loses control and lets Marlena have it
J.J. and Haley hunker down to plan out their next move as Nicole and Xander celebrate their sordid scheme
Wicked winds blow a sinful Salemite into town, and they're sure to start more than one scandal
An already rocky romance is put through another test as a third party could create some friction (and sparks)
One Salemite's already twisted love life becomes even more tangled when their great love seemingly returns
Twists and turns eventually lead a Salemite out of town, but the departure will leave destruction behind
Just as one sordid scheme seems to be coming to an end, a deadly twist changes everything
Come spring, Salemites unite to say goodbye to a beloved family member and community pillar
The only certainty in Salem is its uncertainty, and certain storylines may not be as they appear
Departures and homecomings rock Salem over the next few months, especially when one sneaky schemer returns to cause chaos
