Salem has never been a town where sins stay buried for long, but the current storyline unfolding on Days of Our Lives feels especially volatile — a slow-burning powder keg that threatens to erupt into tragedy at any moment. At the center of this dangerous storm stand two of the show’s most unpredictable forces: Gwen Rizka and Dmitri von Leuschner. What began as manipulation and opportunism has evolved into something far darker, raising one chilling question fans can’t stop asking — is Gwen now in mortal danger?

To understand just how high the stakes have become, we need to rewind and examine the twisted history that brought these two characters to this breaking point. Days of Our Lives thrives on layered characters with morally gray motives, and Gwen Rizka is a perfect example. Portrayed with razor-sharp intensity by Emily O’Brien, Gwen burst onto the Salem scene carrying a lifetime of resentment. As Jack Deveraux’s long-lost daughter, she didn’t arrive seeking reconciliation — she arrived seeking justice, or at least what she believed justice looked like.

From the start, Gwen proved she was willing to cross lines others wouldn’t. She infiltrated the Deveraux family by pretending to be a drug addict, all while harboring deep-seated hatred toward her half-sister Abigail, whom she blamed for stealing the life Gwen felt she deserved. Gwen’s moral compass was never steady. One moment she was vulnerable and wounded, the next she was calculating and ruthless. Alliances shifted constantly — seducing Xander Cook, engaging in blackmail schemes, and orchestrating cover-ups with frightening ease.

Enter Dmitri von Leuschner, a man who arrived in Salem like a looming storm cloud. As the heir to the powerful von Leuschner fortune, Dmitri carried the weight of a shadowy family legacy steeped in wealth, power, and moral compromise. Portrayed by Peter Porte with brooding charisma, Dmitri’s initial storyline revolved around a codicil in his family’s will: marry by a certain age or lose everything. This legal trap set the stage for a whirlwind romance — or rather, a calculated alliance — with Gwen.

Their connection was immediate and electric, but as seasoned Days viewers know, nothing in Salem is ever straightforward. Dmitri’s sudden proposal raised eyebrows, especially as it was later revealed he was secretly involved with Leo Stark — Gwen’s supposed best friend. Leo, played with flamboyant vulnerability by Greg Rikaart, added another explosive layer to the triangle. The chemistry between Leo and Dmitri was undeniable, but it was built entirely on deception.

The wedding between Gwen and Dmitri was classic soap opera spectacle — glamorous on the surface, rotten with secrets underneath. Whispers circulated among guests, knowing glances passed between Leo and Dmitri, and tension crackled in the air. But Gwen was far from clueless. In a masterstroke of manipulation, she uncovered the affair yet chose not to expose it immediately. Instead, she waited, calculating the moment when the truth would hurt the most.

When Gwen finally struck, she didn’t just confront them — she weaponized the truth. Blackmail became her tool of choice. She demanded a share of Dmitri’s inheritance, threatening to destroy his claim to the von Leuschner fortune if he refused. Cornered and furious, Dmitri complied, but the damage was irreversible. The seeds of vengeance were planted deep.

Fast-forward through arrests, escapes, and escalating betrayals, and Dmitri soon found himself behind bars for attempted murder. While he languished in prison, Gwen seized the opportunity to collect her ill-gotten wealth and flee Salem, leaving devastation in her wake. Yet Days of Our Lives is built on unfinished business, and Gwen’s recent return to Salem reignited the flames instantly.

Wealthy, confident, and seemingly untouchable, Gwen strutted back into town — just as Dmitri was released from prison. The timing was no coincidence. The tension between them was immediate, palpable, and dangerous.

Things took an even darker turn with the revelation of Dmitri’s kidnapping and the forged letter that shattered his relationship with Leo. While Dmitri was imprisoned, Gwen teamed up with EJ DiMera — a man who thrives on chaos — to orchestrate a plan that was nothing short of diabolical. Dmitri vanished from custody, leaving authorities baffled. To deepen the cruelty, Gwen forged a letter supposedly written by Dmitri, cruelly dismissing Leo and declaring their relationship meaningless.

Leo believed every word. The emotional fallout was devastating — a broken man left questioning his worth, clutching a letter that cut deeper than any blade. Meanwhile, Gwen watched from the shadows, satisfied that betrayal had come full circle.

But revenge, especially in Salem, never ends cleanly.

Dmitri emerged from his ordeal hardened and seething with rage. From the moment he returned, he suspected Gwen’s involvement. Handwriting inconsistencies, whispered rumors, and his own instincts pointed directly at her. When he confronted Gwen, the scenes crackled with electricity. She denied everything with chilling calm, while Dmitri vowed retribution — legal or otherwise.

The most ominous development? Dmitri’s decision to stay at the DiMera mansion.

“I’ll stay in my family’s house,” he told Gwen, “even if it kills both of us.”

The line landed like a thunderclap.

The DiMera mansion, with its secret passages and blood-soaked history, now feels like a gothic horror set waiting for tragedy. Gwen walks its halls at night, haunted by footsteps and shadows. Is Dmitri stalking her — or is her guilt finally catching up?

Fans are buzzing with speculation. Could Dmitri’s revenge turn lethal? Salem’s history suggests it’s possible. Poisoned drinks, tampered staircases, staged “accidents” — the show has used them all before. Or perhaps Dmitri will choose a slower, more psychological revenge, stripping Gwen of allies, wealth, and sanity piece by piece.

If irrefutable proof emerges — a confession from EJ, a leaked document, or Leo connecting the dots — Gwen’s fate may be sealed. Whether it ends in death, imprisonment, or a desperate escape from Salem, one thing is clear: Gwen’s luck is running out.

As this storyline barrels forward, the tension has never been higher. Betrayal, vengeance, and moral ambiguity collide in classic Days of Our Lives fashion. Will Gwen fall victim to the monster she helped create? Or will she somehow survive — scarred, but unbroken?

One thing is certain: blood, literal or metaphorical, will be spilled.

And Salem will never be the same.