Behind the scenes at Days Drama Digest, our devoted team is back once again to unravel the emotional storms, shocking turns, and heartbreaking farewells that define Days of Our Lives. For loyal viewers, Salem has always been a town where love and loss coexist, where happiness is fleeting, and where goodbyes often arrive just when hope feels strongest. This time, the spotlight falls on a farewell that may mark the end of a powerful chapter: Chad DiMera and his son Thomas leaving Salem behind for Boston.

For more than a decade, Chad DiMera has stood as one of the show’s most layered and conflicted figures. Portrayed with brooding intensity by Billy Flynn, Chad has embodied the classic Days anti-hero—torn between the darkness of his DiMera bloodline and his longing for peace, love, and family. Recent story developments and whispers from production suggest that early 2026 could bring a deeply emotional turning point, one that sends Chad and young Thomas away from Salem altogether. If true, this departure could reshape the canvas of the show in unforgettable ways.

To understand why this possible exit cuts so deeply, we need to revisit Chad’s journey. First arriving in Salem in 2009 as the youngest son of the infamous Stefano DiMera, Chad began as a troubled teenager searching for identity. It wasn’t until Billy Flynn assumed the role in 2014 that Chad fully evolved into the complex, haunted man fans know today. Flynn’s portrayal captured Chad’s internal war—forever battling the legacy of manipulation and cruelty left by his father while desperately trying to be better for the people he loved.

Viewers watched Chad stumble through love triangles, betrayals, and moral compromises, especially during his early romantic entanglements with Abigail Deveraux and Melanie Jonas. His feelings were genuine, but his DiMera instincts often led him astray. Over the years, Chad endured an extraordinary list of trials: life-threatening illnesses, fake deaths, corporate wars at DiMera Enterprises, and repeated brushes with danger. Yet nothing shattered him quite like the loss of Abigail.

Abigail’s brutal murder in 2022 changed everything. Chad was left a grieving widower, raising Thomas and Charlotte alone while trying to shield them from the relentless chaos of Salem. The DiMera mansion, once filled with laughter and love, became a quiet monument to loss. Chad tried to carry on, but the weight of grief never truly lifted.

Then came the devastating DiMera hostage crisis in late 2025—a storyline packed with suspense, danger, and emotional fallout. Families were torn apart, alliances crumbled, and long-buried secrets erupted. Once again, Chad found himself at the center of the storm, risking everything to protect those he loved. Though the immediate danger passed, the emotional damage lingered, especially for the children.

Jennifer Horton, Abigail’s mother and one of Salem’s moral anchors, stepped in during Chad’s darkest moment. After Chad himself was kidnapped, Jennifer made the painful but necessary decision to take Thomas and Charlotte to Boston, where she and Jack Deveraux had been rebuilding their lives. Boston represented safety, distance, and the possibility of normalcy—something Salem could no longer offer.

As 2026 begins, speculation is growing that this move may not be temporary. Reports suggest Thomas has already been enrolled in a prestigious school in Boston, settling into a quieter life away from DiMera danger. Charlotte, too, may be finding comfort among extended family, surrounded by stability instead of secrets and threats. For the children, Boston offers a fresh start. For Chad, it presents an impossible choice.

Imagine Chad alone in the DiMera mansion, the silence pressing in on him. The echoes of his children’s voices are gone, replaced by memories of everything he has lost. Salem has taken so much from him—his wife, his peace, and nearly his children’s safety. The pull to follow Thomas and Charlotte becomes overwhelming.

Our prediction is that Chad ultimately chooses fatherhood over power, love over legacy. In an emotionally charged moment, he decides to leave Salem and join his children in Boston, at least long enough for them to finish the school year undisturbed. This decision would reunite him with Jennifer and Jack, forming a fragile but supportive family unit built on shared grief and mutual understanding.

Of course, leaving Salem is never simple—especially for a DiMera. Chad’s absence would send shockwaves through DiMera Enterprises, potentially giving EJ, Kristen, or Stefan new leverage. Old rivalries could intensify, and unresolved conflicts might follow Chad even across state lines. Salem has a way of refusing to let its residents go quietly.

Adding another layer to this storyline is the real-world shift behind the scenes. Billy Flynn is confirmed to be exiting Days of Our Lives in early 2026, closing the book on his decade-long portrayal of Chad. His departure has stirred strong emotions among fans, many of whom credit Flynn with giving Chad depth, vulnerability, and humanity. His final episodes are expected to align with Chad’s move to Boston, offering a poignant explanation for the character’s absence.

Taking over the role in April 2026 will be Connor Floyd, known for his work on The Young and the Restless. The transition creates a narrative gap—one that could be filled by Chad’s offscreen life in Boston. This pause allows viewers to grieve Flynn’s version of Chad while building anticipation for Floyd’s interpretation, potentially shaped by unseen growth, healing, and transformation.

The changes don’t stop there. Thomas DiMera is also being recast, with a new actor stepping into the role around the same time Chad returns. This timing strongly suggests a soft reset for the father-son dynamic. Thomas may return older, wiser, and more emotionally complex, ready to play a bigger role in future stories.

Story-wise, Chad’s departure could be triggered by one final Salem crisis. Perhaps a lingering threat resurfaces, forcing him to confront the truth: Salem will never truly be safe for his children. Farewell scenes could include emotional goodbyes to Stephanie Johnson, tense confrontations with Kristen, and heartfelt moments with Theo Carver, reminding Chad that sometimes survival means walking away.

In Boston, Chad’s struggle wouldn’t end—it would simply change form. Haunted by trauma and guilt, he could face therapy, sleepless nights, and the challenge of rebuilding life without Abigail. Jennifer’s presence would keep Abigail’s memory alive, while Jack’s hard-earned wisdom could guide Chad through his exile. The children, too, would adjust in their own ways—Thomas questioning why they had to leave, Charlotte clinging to her father as her source of security.

Yet even in Boston, the DiMera shadow could follow. A mysterious figure, a hidden family secret, or an unexpected romantic connection could complicate Chad’s attempt at peace. And, as every Days fan knows, no goodbye is ever truly permanent.

By April 2026, Chad’s return—now portrayed by Connor Floyd—could mark the beginning of a bold new chapter. Hardened by time away but renewed by purpose, Chad might come back to Salem ready to face old enemies, uncover new conspiracies tied to Stefano’s legacy, and reclaim his place in the story.

Ultimately, Chad and Thomas leaving for Boston feels less like an ending and more like a necessary pause—a chance for healing before the next storm. It’s a storyline filled with sorrow, hope, and the promise of transformation. For now, Salem must learn to move on without them.

But as always on Days of Our Lives, time passes like sand through the hourglass. And no matter how far Chad and Thomas go, Salem has a way of calling its own back home.