Leo Refuses Nicole’s Request To Punish EJ — Who Faces Marlena’s Wrath

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Roman enters the Pub with luggage (after visiting Rex in Chicago) and encounters Eric. Isn’t Eric supposed to be in Paris? And why is he with Jude? “Would you like to say hello to your grandson?” Eric asks, beaming. He fills in an overwhelmed Roman, who wonders if Eric will now reunite with Nicole.

Outside the DiMera mansion, Marlena answers a call from Leo. She curtly reminds him he has to make an appointment. Leo isn’t calling for therapy, but to invite her to watch Drag Race this weekend. John can come too, and they can even do it at his place. He’ll order room service. Marlena will get back to him. He gushes over her being the only Drag Race-loving shrink in town before hanging up.

As Leo cringes over being too thirsty, a furious Nicole comes to The Spectator office. She lashes out about Leo knowing the truth about Jude. Leo assures her he’s trying to become a better person via therapy with Marlena. Nicole wonders if Marlena knows his part in making everyone believe Jude was a DiMera and not her grandson. Leo swears he didn’t know Jude was Eric’s son. It finally dawns on him why EJ paid him to keep his mouth shut. Nicole gapes upon hearing this new information. Leo sincerely apologizes for what he did. Nicole says he can make it up to her by testifying in court.

Marlena calmly strolls into the DiMera living room. Assuming she came to see Jude, EJ tells her he’s not there. “What I actually came to do is this,” she says and slaps him. Composing himself, EJ evenly says she has every right to be angry. There’s no excuse for what he did in the name of holding on to his wife and son.

At the Salem Inn, Connie tells Bobby she stabbed Rafe in the back with a sharp knife. He tenses. He didn’t want him murdered! Connie states he wanted him gone. What else was she supposed to do? Ship him to a private island? She held up her end of their bargain by taking the commish out of commission so he could be with Jada.

In the hospital lobby, Kayla tells Jada and Gabi that Rafe’s in surgery. The knife penetrated his lung. They won’t know the extent of the damage until they get in there. After Kayla rushes off, Gabi realizes someone hurt Rafe in the same way that Li was killed. Jada vows to investigate every possible lead. Gabi thinks the knife could help her prove who did it.

At the Pub, Eric tells Roman he hasn’t seen Nicole since she told him about Jude. He assumes she’s giving him a chance to bond with his son. Roman opines that once the dust clears, Nicole will realize there’s nothing standing in her way of reuniting with him. Eric says he might not be sticking around Salem. Roman wonders why he’d even think of leaving when he has a chance at everything he’s ever wanted.

At the Salem Inn, Bobby worries there’ll be a murder investigation. Connie doesn’t know if Rafe’s dead or not, but it doesn’t look good. Bobby’s furious, but Connie points out Jada will be devasted if Rafe dies and will need someone to pick up the pieces. Isn’t that what Bobby wanted? Bobby points out he’s pretending to be Everett. Regardless, Connie held up her end of the deal. Will he do the same? Bobby assures her he won’t tell anyone he saw her the night of Li’s death. But no one can ever see them together, especially now that Jada thinks the identity of Li’s killer is locked in Everett’s brain.

Jada solemnly enters Rafe’s hospital room. Blood stains the sheets on the empty bed. Putting on latex gloves, she bags the bloody knife that’s lying on the counter. Crying, she picks up Rafe’s shirt and holds it to her face.

At The Spectator, Leo balks at testifying against Salem’s D.A. Nicole doesn’t plan on just divorcing EJ — she wants him locked up. Leo testifying that EJ paid him to keep quiet should do the trick. Leo doesn’t want any part of that. Nicole offers to talk to Rafe about getting him immunity, but that’s not why Leo won’t testify. EJ’s suffered enough by losing his kid and his wife. Now, he’ll have to watch his worst nightmare come true as Eric and Nicole grow closer.

Mocking Nicole and Eric’s love story at the mansion, EJ details the countless times he witnessed their addiction to each other. However, he thought with enough time, he could make Nicole love him more than she ever loved Eric. Marlena compares him to Stefano, who never liked losing. After recounting how he lost Samantha, EJ admits he went over the top in his desperation to keep Nicole, who he truly loves. But it’s all moot now. Nicole and Eric have their son back and he has nothing. Marlena doesn’t feel sorry for him. EJ retorts that he’s just stating a fact. He got his comeuppance so, for her, all should be right with the world. Marlena hopes his suffering has just begun.

In the room above the Pub, Eric tells Jude that Roman might have been right about Nicole. She knocks on his door. Meanwhile, EJ receives divorce papers. “Well, Marlena. I guess my comeuppance is coming faster than you thought.”

Exiting Bobby’s room, Connie stops Leo in the Salem Inn hallway. She gushes over his Lady Whistleblower column. He’s thrilled to meet a fan and asks if she’s a friend of Everett’s. She says they go way back and hurries off.

At the hospital, Kayla tells Jada and Gabi there’s been a complication. The surgeons worked to remove a clot in Rafe’s lung, but he slipped into a coma. She tells the women to pray for him.

Next, on Days of Our Lives, Nicole and Eric discuss the future, and Brady learns of Alex and Theresa’s impending wedding.