Days Update Monday, February 23, 2026

Days of Our Lives Update

 

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Update written by Joseph

Johnny meets Bonnie at the Kiriakis Mansion. Bonnie excitedly asks if he read her book. Johnny confirms that he did and he passed it on to the heads of DiMera publishing. Bonnie asks what they thought. Johnny explains that DiMera has typically published non-fiction books in the past so this would be a change but they do recognize the popularity of romance novels. Bonnie wants to know about her romance novel. Johnny reveals that they read it, think it’s very exciting, and would like to make her an offer. Bonnie is thrilled and hugs Johnny.

At the hospital, Steve tells Kayla that they are good to go for the sting operation as Alex is on his way to the courthouse with an undercover officer who looks like Stephanie to pretend to get married. Steve notes that there’s still a chance that Jeremy is not the stalker, but whoever it is will definitely show up and that’s when they grab him. Kayla thinks they need to assume it is Jeremy, but questions if it’s a good idea to try and trap him as she worries if the whole thing goes sideways. Steve assures her that won’t happen because he will be there with Jada and a dozen other cops, waiting to take that psycho down. Steve reminds Kayla that Stephanie will be in Kayla’s office with a cop guarding the door. Kayla can’t wait until the day is over with Jeremy behind bars and the rest of them all home safe. Steve tells her to count on it.

Alex brings Stephanie tea at home to try to calm her down. Stephanie hates that Alex is putting himself out there as bait. Alex assures that he will be fine and the courthouse will be crawling with undercover cops. Stephanie wants to be there with him too. The stalker listens in from the bugged picture frame as Alex says he will feel a lot better knowing that Stephanie is safe in Kayla’s office and adds that when that freak makes his move, he will be in for a big surprise. Stephanie knows all signs point to Jeremy being the stalker, but for his family’s sake, she hopes he’s not. Alex says his money is on Jeremy and they are going to catch him in the act and lock him up because they have everything they need. Alex declares that if all goes according to plan, this will all finally be over.

Bonnie excitedly tells Johnny how they could give a pair of fuzzy handcuffs to everyone who buys her book and they can recreate scenes from it. Bonnie suggests Johnny take another pair to Chanel and starts talking about how her and Justin used them. Bonnie asks what Chanel thought of her book but Johnny says she’s been too busy to read it. Bonnie mentions not wanting Justin to read it until it was a real published book and now that’s really going to happen. Bonnie declares that she’s going to be a published romance novelist.

Steve notes that Kayla still looks worried. Kayla admits she feels guilty as she was just telling Marlena that all those years ago, Stephanie was in an abusive relationship with Jeremy and they didn’t do anything to protect her or know how bad it was. Kayla feels they should’ve been all over it and done more to help her when Jeremy came back to Salem. Steve insists they are doing that now. Kayla doesn’t think it’s a good idea to have Jeremy feel trapped. Kayla is trying to tell herself to be brave. Kayla talks about worrying more about their kids now that they are older. Steve says the hardest part of being a parent is not always being able to keep their kids safe, but points out that Stephanie is in Salem and promises they will keep her safe.

Jada joins Alex and Stephanie in their apartment. Jada mentions the police escorts outside while Alex reassures Stephanie that they will be safe. Jada says she’s going to update Steve on everything going on. Jada knows Stephanie is worried but assures it will all work out. Stephanie decides she’s ready to go. Alex says he will swing by the Kiriakis Mansion to give Justin a heads up about everything and share the news. Jada shows them a photo from the cop tailing Jeremy so they know what he’s wearing and advises them to keep their guard up. Stephanie thanks Jada and hugs her. Jada says they are almost to the finish line and tells Alex that she will see him at the courthouse as she exits. The stalker listens in from the bugged picture frame as Stephanie tells Alex that if all goes as planned, they can tell everybody they eloped on Valentine’s Day and are already husband and wife. Stephanie guesses she has no choice but to pretend she’s still single. Alex says not quite yet as he sometimes thinks he hasn’t told her enough how much he really loves her and calls her the best thing to ever happen to him. Stephanie says she loves him with all her heart forever and always as they kiss.

Johnny is glad Bonnie is excited and says DiMera is excited as well. Bonnie wants to see the contract he has drawn up. Justin then walks in and asks what’s going on. Bonnie informs him that Johnny is here to buy her book. Justin congratulates her. Bonnie says he’s here just in time to read over the contract and make sure she’s getting what she’s worth. Johnny shows Justin the contract but advises that they are in a very tight window to get the book out, so any back and forth could push back the publishing date. Bonnie asks if she should want more money. Justin thinks they should discuss it in private but Bonnie says she’s good with what they are offering on the condition that they have the Bakery create edible handcuffs for all of her book signings. Johnny says he’ll have to talk to Chanel but he’s sure they can figure something out. Alex then arrives.

Stephanie joins Kayla and Steve in Kayla’s office at the hospital. They check on how she’s doing. Stephanie talks about how crazy the last few months have been with the stalker situation and feels she totally brought it on herself. Stephanie feels Jeremy came back to town because he recognized the story in her book. Kayla says normal people don’t act like that. Stephanie calls Jeremy not normal and talks about how he came back remorseful so she gave him a second chance and now she worries that he’s after her and wants Alex dead. Steve insists no one is to blame except Jeremy or whoever is targeting her. Stephanie still regrets dragging them, Jada, and the police in to this. Steve says she didn’t drag anyone. Stephanie is grateful for their help but can’t believe something wonderful and exciting turned in to something horrible.. Stephanie says she had a great career and asks why she had to want more. Kayla encourages her book writing and says she’s very proud of her. Kayla tells Stephanie that she deserves to enjoy the happiness she worked for. Steve agrees not to let some loser take that away from her. Stephanie is so blessed to have the most supporting and loving parents. Stephanie thanks them for helping her through this. Kayla assures they would always do anything for her. They talk about Stephanie getting married. Steve says it took some time for him to get to know Alex, but he sees now that he’s a good man that loves her, so he definitely deserves her. Stephanie cries that she loves them both so much as they hug.

Jada is at the police station, watching security footage on her laptop that catches her eye.

Stephanie says that’s enough crying and it’s time to get to work as she thanks Kayla for letting her use her office. Kayla calls it a good place to hide while Stephanie notes that she will be doing some hospital work while there. Kayla is sure she could put that aside until after Jeremy is caught but Stephanie says EJ might not agree as he wants her to put out a press release on the success of the free clinic in it’s first three months. Kayla admits she has to applaud that the clinic is making a big difference in everyone’s lives and changing the community. Kayla asks if EJ is going to collaborate on her press release. Stephanie says he’ll probably look it over but he has other things to take care of, so he won’t be there until later. Kayla says she’ll have a nice and peaceful place to work then. Stephanie says she’ll just have to find a way to focus while all she can think of is what’s happening at the courthouse.

Alex asks what brings Johnny by the Kiriakis Mansion. Bonnie gladly informs him that DiMera decided to buy her book that Titan wouldn’t read. Alex says he’s happy it worked out and congratulates her. Johnny gets a call so he steps out to answer it. Justin is surprised Alex is here and not getting ready for his wedding. Bonnie explains that she found their wedding website which she showed to Justin immediately. Justin adds that they know they decided to elope at the courthouse today. Bonnie admits her surprise as she thought they wanted a big blowout wedding. Alex says he didn’t think they would see that. Bonnie asks if they can be there for their big moment now that they know. Alex then reveals that they aren’t eloping today because they already got married, surprising Justin and Bonnie.

Stephanie introduces Kayla to Officer Hansen, who has been keeping an eye on her. Kayla gets paged to the ER and says she’ll be back to check on them as she exits. Officer Hansen then tells Stephanie that he’ll be right outside the door.

Steve joins Jada at the police station. Jada informs him that she’s been going over the security footage of Jeremy at the town square from Halloween. Jada then shows Steve the footage shows someone in a mask wearing a scientist costume, just like Jeremy’s, and that he has a knife in his hand about to stab Alex. Steve then declares that this means Jeremy is the stalker while Jada states that they have him dead to rights.

Alex explains to Justin and Bonnie that all he knew was that Stephanie had a big Valentine’s Day surprise for him in Chicago, then he was blindfolded and led to a wedding chapel where Stephanie asked him then and there to marry her. Bonnie calls that the most ridiculously romantic thing but wishes they could have been there. Alex says he does too and wasn’t trying to keep it from them, but it just happened and now he’s here to fill them in. Justin says he’s disappointed they missed it but he’s very happy for them. Alex assures that they will still have a big wedding for family and friends. Justin asks how Stephanie came up with this surprise. Alex explains that when they went to get the marriage license for the fake elopement, she got the idea to do it for real and he loved it. Alex notes that Jada was their witness/bodyguard/maid of honor. Bonnie calls it wonderful and asks about his ring. Alex reminds them that with the stalker situation, he can’t be seen wearing it. Justin admits he’s not a fan of the sting operation. Alex assures that it was meticulously planned out. Justin worries that Jeremy is a homicidal maniac and will have a plan too. Alex insists that he’s got cops all over and being shadowed everywhere he goes. Alex promises that he’ll be fine and that after today, they’ll never have to think about this again.

Jada tells Steve that they can arrest Jeremy now on charges that will stick, so she needs to get officers over to North Salem Elementary. Steve worries about little kids seeing their teacher dragged away in handcuffs. Jada says she’ll make sure they do it right. Steve suggests waiting a few minutes school is out which Jada says is what she was thinking too as they pull out their phones. Steve calls Stephanie and tells her that they got proof that Jeremy is the stalker and the police is about to arrest him. Stephanie questions it happening already since Alex isn’t even at the courthouse yet. Steve tells her there’s no need as they got Jeremy on video from Halloween. Stephanie can’t believe it and calls it fantastic news. Stephanie says she’ll call Alex now. Steve tells her that Jada is texting him now and that it’s almost over. Stephanie thanks Steve. Steve tells her to stay in Kayla’s office until she hears from him as they hang up. Someone then enters the office dressed as a nurse. Stephanie tells them that if they’re looking for Kayla, she got called away on an emergency.

Johnny returns to the living room and asks if they know there’s a guy hanging around outside. Alex confirms that he’s with him. Bonnie asks Johnny if his long phone call was about her book. Johnny says it wasn’t as they can’t move forward with the publication until her deal is closed. Johnny tells her to look over the contract and sign it as DiMera are eager to publish One Stormy Afternoon and get it on bookshelves. Bonnie remarks that there will then be two famous authors in the family. Alex is sure when Stephanie finds out, she’ll be calling to congratulate her. Johnny tells Justin that he has a legal question before he leaves. Johnny says he and Chanel have a hearing to finalize Trey’s adoption and asks if they should do anything special to prepare for it. Justin calls it just a formality and he expects it to be very joyous. Justin recalls when he and Adrienne adopted their boys and then got pregnant with Sonny. Bonnie comments on that happening all the time. Johnny reveals that he can relate because Chanel is pregnant.

Steve calls Kayla and tells her that Jeremy should be in custody in minutes. Kayla is relieved and says she can finally breathe as she calls it great news. Kayla suggests starting an online language course so she could learn Mandarin before they go visit Tripp and Wendy in Hong Kong. Steve decides he’ll bring home Chinese takeout for dinner then as they hang up. Jada is on the phone, angrily telling her officer to find Jeremy as she hangs up. Jada then informs Steve that Jeremy wasn’t at the school and they don’t know where he is.

The man dressed as a nurse tells Stephanie that he’s just dropping things off for Kayla, but he then goes behind Stephanie and grabs her from behind with a rag over her face as she screams.

Justin congratulates Johnny as Bonnie says she understands why Chanel hasn’t had time to read her book and asks when the baby is due. Johnny notes that Chanel is three months pregnant now. Bonnie says there’s nothing better than holding a newborn and asks how Chanel is feeling. Johnny admits she’s pretty wiped out and experiencing morning sickness. Bonnie calls that a sign that the baby is doing well and asks if they know it’s a boy or a girl. Johnny says not yet but it’s a healthy baby. Justin sends their best. Johnny asks them to keep it quiet for now as they aren’t quite ready for the world to know yet which they agree to. Alex tells Johnny that he’s thrilled for them as well. Bonnie calls it a day of exciting news.

At the nurse’s desk, a nurse tells Kayla that she has another patient waiting.

Justin, Bonnie, Alex, and Johnny have a drink. Justin decides he and Bonnie should look over her contract. Bonnie thanks Johnny again and reminds him about the edible handcuffs as she and Justin leave together. Alex tells Johnny that he’s sorry if it was awkward with Bonnie’s book but he’s glad it all worked out and repeats that he’s thrilled for he and Chanel. Johnny congratulates Alex and Stephanie on the engagement. Johnny decides he should get back to the office so Alex says it was good to see him as Johnny exits. Alex then gets a text from Jada that the sting operation is off and to call for details.

Jada tells Steve that she has notified the state police and the FBI to look out for Jeremy’s car. Steve doesn’t understand how this happened. Jada says she doesn’t know either, but she’s going to find out. Jada says she will contact the officer assigned to Stephanie. She calls him but it goes straight to voicemail, so Steve orders her to try again.

Kayla goes to check on her patient Mrs. Walsh, but finds she has been replaced in the hospital bed by an unconscious Officer Hansen.

Stephanie is unconscious, gagged and tied up in a chair in an unknown location.

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