Days of our Lives Recap September 25: Marlena Learned a Horrifying Secret

On the Friday, September 25, 2026, episode of Days of our Lives, Sarah was implicated in a crime, Philip and Gabi reconnected, Kate offered her support, and Marlena learned a horrifying secret.

The High of Love

Philip and Gabi agreed to date again | Image: Peacock

Philip met up with Gabi at the cafe in the square, where Gabi explained that she wanted to commemorate their fake engagement before it was formally ended. Philip took back Maggie’s ring. Philip and Gabi talked about the proposal. Gabi noted that she appreciated that the moment had been a private one between them. Philip said he would remember that for his next proposal.

Gabi asked about the family’s reception to Philip’s news. Philip explained that they had been too late to save the house, but they had saved the business. After a moment, Philip shook off his sadness, and he promised Gabi would eventually see a return on her investment. “I’m a patient woman. And I’m in this for the long haul,” Gabi said.

Philip noted that he had moved into the Salem Inn. Gabi offered to help Philip unpack. When Philip and Gabi got to his room, Gabi asked to talk about their night together and what it meant. Philip admitted that their night together had been fueled by a winner’s high, but that he still felt as excited about her as he did then. Philip said he wanted to give their relationship another try. The two made love.

The Story

Kate started her new job at the paper | Image: Peacock

Kate was working at the Spectator office when Chad arrived and welcomed her to the team. Chad updated Kate on the Stefano mystery so far, and he showed Kate the photo of Dominic with Stefano. Kate said she did not know the child. Chad confirmed that the boy was Dominic Marino. Kate recognized the name.

Kate said she knew that Dominic had bought the Kiriakis mansion. Chad told Kate about the clues in the case so far and what they had found at the palazzo. With a shake of her head, Kate noted that Stefano had to have set up the clues years ago before his death. Talk turned to work, and Chad told Kate he was excited about her plans for the paper. Leo called Chad to pitch him on a story idea about the FDA investigation. Chad groaned. “Is there nothing EJ won’t do?” Chad said.

The Asterisk

Sarah freaked out when she realized she had been framed | Image: Peacock

At Black Patch, Steve told Brady that Bo and Hope had gone to San Marino. Steve confirmed that he had not told Marlena, and Brady agreed it was best to keep Marlena in the dark for now. Steve asked Brady what he knew about Marlena’s time on Stefano’s island. Brady said that he knew that was where Marlena had served as a surrogate for the birth of Cassie and Rex. “Because of [Stefano’s] sick game, she is forced to relive those memories over and over again,” Steve muttered.

At the hospital, Sarah and Kayla discussed the pending wrongful death lawsuit and EJ’s part in it. Kayla admitted to Sarah that she had warned EJ that more people than Sarah knew what he had done. Sarah was concerned that Kayla had made herself a target. With a shrug, Kayla noted that in her experience from facing the DiMera family, one needed to show them that one was not afraid. Kayla and Sarah reviewed the files, and Kayla confirmed that there was nothing to support the claim in the lawsuit. Kayla reminded Sarah that the review board had reached the same conclusion.

After a moment, Sarah noticed an asterisk on a lab result. Sarah found a footnote on the paperwork that read that Sarah had edited the results the day after Destiny’s death. Sarah gasped, and she noted that she would never edit results to change a patient’s history. Kayla told Sarah that she believed her. Panicked, Sarah insisted that Destiny’s results had never shown any abnormalities. Sarah argued that someone had changed the results and their actions would ruin her career.

Sarah and Kayla met up with Steve and Brady at the pub to tell them about the altered records. Kayla explained that there was a note in Destiny’s records that made it appear like Sarah had altered the records the day after Destiny had died. Sarah started to argue that she would never cover up malpractice, but Brady cut her off to assure her that they knew she would not do that. Brady argued EJ was to blame. Bo called Steve, and he stepped aside to take the call.

Sarah struggled with her emotions as she noted that if people believed she had altered the records, she could lose her license. Brady promised that EJ would pay for his actions, not Sarah. Brady suggested they run a cyber forensics analysis on the system to determine when the file had been changed and what terminal had been used. Steve returned and he asked Brady to head up the investigation while he left to meet with someone. Justin called Sarah to inform her that Melinda Trask intended to hold a televised press conference to accuse Sarah of wrongdoing.

The Truth

Steve shows Marlena what Bo found | Image: Peacock

In the penthouse, Marlena napped on her couch and dreamed about Stefano’s island and the photo of Dominic. Marlena stirred awake when Roman knocked on her door. Roman told Marlena that he had spoken to Sami about Dante’s connection to Dominic. Sami had called her fiancé and he had confirmed that he had had very little contact with Dominic over the years. Sami had told Roman that she did not believe that Dante was part of Stefano’s treasure hunt. Marlena refused to back off.

Marlena admitted that she had been recovering memories of her time on the island. Marlena told Roman that before he had arrived, she had dreamed that someone that sounded like Roman had said the name Dominic. With a sigh, Marlena admitted she was not sure if her dream was a real memory or not. Roman assured Marlena that Stefano could not hurt them anymore. Marlena regretted that she had let Belle pursue the investigation. Marlena admitted that she was terrified to know what secret Stefano had kept from her and John. Roman said he understood that Marlena was upset that John was not with her to go through Stefano’s latest game, but that he was there to support her.

After Roman left the penthouse, he ran into Kate in the square. Kate admitted that she had no insights, but that she felt like she and Roman needed to support Marlena through the ordeal. Roman agreed. “Whatever happened on that island to the three of us, ties us together forever,” Kate said.

Steve met with Marlena at the penthouse. Steve confirmed that Bo and Hope had located Dominic’s birth certificate. Steve handed his phone to Marlena to read the results. “Full name: Dominic Nero Marino DiMera,” Marlena said. The birth certificate named Marlena as the mother.

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