Days of our Lives Recap, November 21, 2025: Kayla tore into EJ 

Here’s your Days of our Lives recap for what happened on Friday, November 21, 2025, when Aaron and Ari visited Sophia, Kayla tore into EJ, and Rachel made a move.

What happened on Days of our Lives

In the Greene household, Mark and Aaron stared at their frozen Thanksgiving turkey, and they decided to order takeout instead. “If only mom could be here. Then all of us would be together,” Mark said. “All of us. Except for my son,” Aaron countered. Mark asked Aaron if he regretted his decision to give up his parental rights, but Aaron said no. Aaron stressed that he had made the right decision, but that he still had complicated feelings about the situation. “And I have so many questions that I want to ask Sophia, but I can’t,” Aaron said. Mark urged Aaron to call Amy again about permission to visit Sophia.

At the Hernandez house, Ari helped Gabi bake for Thanksgiving. “I just really wish my dads could be in Salem for the holidays,” Ari admitted. Gabi said she understood that half of Ari’s heart was with her dads in Arizona. Gabi told Ari that she was glad that she had friends to support her.

Gabi asked about Sophia, and Ari admitted that she had no news. “I don’t think I ever want to be close to her again. I mean, what she did was unforgivable,” Ari said. Gabi told Ari that she did not condone Sophia’s actions, but that she understood the stress of a teen pregnancy. Gabi told Ari about how she had been dating Nick Fallon by the time she had learned that she was pregnant.

“Because of the stress and the fear and just everything, I made some very bad decisions,” Gabi admitted. “Like what?” Ari asked. Gabi tearfully confessed that Nick had convinced her to marry him and pretend that the baby was his. “Nick said that it would set Will free and that it would be best to raise you in a traditional family, which, of course, is total bull,” Gabi said. Gabi explained that Chad had announced the truth at Gabi’s wedding to Nick.

“I look back on that, and you ended up with the most wonderful, most loving dads in the world. And I am so grateful, Ariana. And when I look back at the decisions I made, it reminds me of Sophia,” Gabi said. When Ari argued that no one had forced Sophia to lie, Gabi countered that no one had forced her to choose an abuser to be Ari’s father. “Sophia was alone and pregnant. She didn’t even feel like she could turn to her own mother,” Gabi said. Gabi broke down in tears.

“To be in a place like that and have to make a decision like that, to do the unthinkable, it’s not easy,” Gabi said. Gabi asked Ari if she planned to visit Sophia, but Ari said she was not sure. Gabi encouraged Ari to think about Amy, who would appreciate that someone spent time with her daughter. Aaron knocked on the door. “I talked to Mrs. Choi on the phone, and she agreed to let Sophia’s friends come see her at Bayview. So, Ari, would you go with me, please?” Aaron asked.

In the DiMera living room, a suspicious Susan asked EJ what he had done to Marlena. “Why does everyone assume I’ve done something wrong?” EJ muttered. Susan reminded EJ that she was psychic. EJ explained that Marlena had a heart infection, and it was possible that her diagnosis had been delayed because of staffing issues at the hospital. “Shame on you for being such a penny pincher! You own a hospital, not a discount store!” Susan yelled.

EJ asked Susan to use her gifts to locate Kristen and Tony. After a moment, Susan noted that she did not feel any vibes. “The only missing DiMera that I am sensing is your no-good daddy,” Susan said. EJ groaned, but Susan insisted that Stefano’s presence was all over the house. Susan advised EJ to be careful.

At Bayview, Sophia remained in a catatonic state. Aaron and Ari visited, but Sophia did not respond. “I know how hard all of this has been for you. And I wish I could have made it easier. And I wish you would have told me that I might have been the father, because I would have been there for you,” Aaron said. Aaron told Sophia that their son had been adopted and was safe. After Ari and Aaron left, Ari told him that she was proud of how he had talked to Sophia about their baby. They agreed that Sophia was not ready to hear the names of the adoptive parents.

Susan called out to Gabi as she passed in the square. Defensive, Gabi said she was not hiding anything. Susan told Gabi that she knew she had a secret tied to work and romance.

Sarah ran into Kayla at the pub, and Kayla asked Sarah if she was okay. “Not really. Xander and I signed the divorce papers,” Sarah said. Kayla prescribed ice cream to cheer Sarah up. As Kayla exited the pub, she ran into Brady and Rachel. Brady explained that they had visited Marlena and that she looked better. Kayla promised to check on Marlena, and she left for the hospital. “Why are you so quiet?” Brady asked Rachel. “The only thing that would get me excited this Christmas is if Mommy came home,” Rachel said.

As Kayla walked through the square, Mark stopped her. “I want you to know that I feel horrible about what Clyde Weston made me do to your family. If he hadn’t been threatening my mother, I never would have gone along with it,” Mark said. Kayla noticed Mark’s badge, and he explained that he was working as a lab assistant at the clinic. “Why am I just hearing about that?” Kayla complained. Mark said EJ had hired him. When Mark arrived at the secret lab, he noticed that the test subject was deceased. “Watch and learn,” Rolf said. Rolf injected Versavix into the subject.

After Kayla toured the clinic with EJ, she told EJ she was furious that he had hired Mark. EJ clarified that Mark worked on a private research project for him, not the hospital. Kayla asked if Chad knew. EJ stressed that Chad had forgiven the whole family. “Perhaps Abigail’s loved ones should follow his lead,” EJ said.

EJ reminded Kayla of Tripp’s history, and he asked if only Kayla’s family members deserved a second chance. EJ argued that Mark had paid his debt to society, and he deserved to work. Kayla reminded EJ that Mark could not treat patients. “Mark won’t be going anywhere near patients at the clinic,” EJ said. As EJ attempted to end the tour, Kayla demanded to see the lab where Mark worked.

Inside the lab, Rolf noticed Kayla and EJ on the CCTV, and he hid himself before they entered. “Nothing out of the ordinary,” EJ said. “That does seem to be the case,” Kayla said. Kayla narrowed her eyes, and she told Mark that she would check on him. After EJ and Kayla left, Rolf exited his hidden room.

When Brady and Rachel entered the pub, they joined Sarah and agreed they all wanted ice cream. Rachel thought about the news article that had talked about Sarah’s allergy to pistachios. Rachel grinned. After they placed an order, Sarah asked Rachel about her break.

“How would your break be going if your mom escaped from prison?” Rachel snapped. Brady started to say something, but Rachel noted that Sarah did not listen. Sarah apologized. “I didn’t think before I spoke, and that was incredibly insensitive of me,” Sarah said. Rachel announced that she needed to ask for extra whipped cream, and she went to the bar. Rachel told Roman that she wanted pistachio ice cream instead of vanilla on her sundae.

Sarah apologized to Brady. “Please rest assured, my daughter adores you,” Brady said. At the bar, Roman set the sundaes down, and he pointed out the one with pistachio ice cream to Rachel. While Roman went to retrieve the extra whipped cream for Rachel, she scooped a spoonful of pistachio ice cream into Sarah’s dish. Rachel returned to the table.

“Why do you always say I’m your favorite patient?” Rachel asked Sarah. Sarah noted that Rachel had been special to her since she was a baby. “Because you thought I was your daughter,” Rachel said. Rachel said she had read about it in the paper during a research project. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Brady said. “I could ask you the same thing,” Rachel countered. Brady said he had intended to tell Rachel when she was older. Roman delivered the ice cream.

“Did you really kidnap me?” Rachel asked. “For about a year, I thought that you were my daughter. And at first, it was really hard to accept that that wasn’t true. And so yes, I took you and ran. But I knew in my heart that that was wrong, and that I had to give you back. And as much as I loved you, and I still do, I knew that you belonged with your real parents. You’re not just my favorite patient, Rachel. You’re one of the brightest lights in my life,” Sarah said. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way,” Brady said. Brady noted that everything had turned out for the best.

“Mommy and I have you. Sarah has her own little girl. And you got one more person in the world over here that loves you very much,” Brady said. As Sarah took a bite of her sundae, Rachel yelled at her, “Don’t eat that!” Sarah started to react. “What did you do?” Brady said as he dropped to his knees next to Sarah. Roman called 911, and Brady grabbed Sarah’s EpiPen from her purse. As Sarah struggled to breathe, Rachel remembered that she had shot EJ.

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