DOOL Spoilers: The End’s Billy — Chad Says His Final Goodbyes & Heads to Arizona With His Children

Hello, devoted Days of Our Lives fans. Salem is about to be rocked by another emotional earthquake—one filled with impossible choices, lingering grief, and a goodbye that cuts straight to the heart. In the coming episodes, one of the show’s most enduring and deeply loved characters reaches the end of his journey in Salem. After nearly a decade of unforgettable performances, Billy Flynn’s portrayal of Chad DiMera is drawing to a poignant close, as Chad prepares to leave town with the two people who mean more to him than anything: his children, Thomas and Charlotte.

This isn’t just another exit in the long, dramatic history of Days of Our Lives. It’s a major turning point—one that closes a significant chapter in Salem’s ongoing saga. Chad’s departure is layered with meaning, sacrifice, and the kind of quiet heartbreak that soap fans know all too well. His story has never been simple, and his farewell won’t be either.

Over the years, Chad DiMera’s life has been defined by loss, resilience, and the constant push and pull between duty and desire. The most devastating blow came with the death of his beloved wife, Abigail Deveraux. Losing Abigail shattered Chad’s world, leaving him a grieving widower and a single father trying to hold it together for two young children in the shadow of the powerful—and often dangerous—DiMera legacy. Every hallway of the mansion echoed with memories of a life that was suddenly gone, and Chad was forced to rebuild himself from the rubble of that loss.

Just when it seemed like his heart might never recover, fate intervened in the most complicated way imaginable. Enter Cat Greene, a woman who initially came into Chad’s life under false pretenses. Her deception—posing as Abigail—was cruel, manipulative, and deeply traumatizing for everyone involved. Yet in true Days fashion, what began as a twisted scheme slowly transformed into something far more complicated. As the truth came out and Cat sought redemption, a genuine connection formed between her and Chad.

Their relationship was never easy or straightforward. It was cautious, fragile, and constantly threatened by the ghosts of the past. But it also offered Chad something he hadn’t felt in years: hope. For the first time since Abigail’s death, he allowed himself to imagine a future that included love again. That hope, however, came with a heavy price.

Family pressures, unresolved trauma, and the ever-present specter of custody battles loomed large over Chad’s happiness. Abigail’s parents, Jack Deveraux and Jennifer Horton Deveraux, have never stopped grieving their daughter—and they’ve never fully trusted Chad’s ability to move on, especially with someone so closely tied to a painful deception. Their concern for Thomas and Charlotte has always been fierce, sometimes crossing into control.

Next week, all of these tensions explode in one emotionally charged confrontation. Chad sits down with Cat for a conversation that both of them sense could change everything. The atmosphere is thick with unspoken feelings and regret. When Chad finally delivers the news—“I’m taking the kids to Arizona”—the impact is immediate and devastating.

The words hang in the air like a thunderclap. Cat is blindsided. Shock flashes across her face, quickly followed by hurt and fear. She can’t help but wonder if she’s the reason he’s running. Does Chad see their relationship as too dangerous? Too destabilizing for his children? Is she the final straw that’s driving him away from Salem?

For Cat, the moment is crushing. She has already endured blackmail, exposure, and the painful process of earning forgiveness. Her bond with Chad grew slowly out of shared vulnerability and mutual healing. Now, just as she believed they were building something real, it feels like it’s being ripped away.

But Chad’s decision isn’t impulsive or rooted in fear of love. It’s the result of a brutal, calculated choice—one that underscores just how far he’s willing to go to protect his children. Behind the scenes, Chad has entered into a formal custody agreement with Jack and Jennifer. The terms are harsh and unyielding: if Chad pursues a romantic relationship with Cat, Jack and Jennifer reserve the right to reopen the custody battle for Thomas and Charlotte.

This clause didn’t come out of nowhere. It was born from heated arguments, emotional pleas, and the raw, unresolved grief that still binds the Deveraux family together. Jennifer, in particular, has struggled to accept Chad moving forward, especially with someone connected to the deception that reopened old wounds. Jack, ever the peacemaker, pushed for safeguards he believes will shield his grandchildren from further emotional upheaval.

For Chad, the agreement is a nightmare. He has faced down villains, corporate power struggles, and the dark legacy of his own family name—but nothing terrifies him more than the possibility of losing his children. Thomas and Charlotte are his entire world. They are the living pieces of Abigail he still has, the reason he gets up every morning. The idea of putting them at risk, even unintentionally, is something he simply cannot bear.

As much as he cares for Cat, Chad knows that staying in Salem—and staying close to her—could ignite another brutal custody war. Courtrooms, family feuds, and public scrutiny could tear apart the fragile stability he’s fought so hard to create. And this time, there’s no guarantee he’d win.

So Chad chooses sacrifice.

In a moment of heartbreaking clarity, he decides to walk away—not just from Cat, but from Salem itself. Arizona represents a clean break. Open skies, physical distance from DiMera drama, and a chance for Thomas and Charlotte to heal without being surrounded by constant reminders of loss. It’s not the life Chad envisioned for himself, but it’s the one he believes his children need.

When Chad explains the custody agreement to Cat, his voice is calm but heavy with emotion. Every word feels like a knife to both of them. “I can’t risk them,” he tells her quietly. “Not for anything. Not even for us.” His resolve is unshakable, even as his eyes fill with tears.

The farewell carries a sense of finality that’s impossible to ignore. As Chad prepares to leave town, viewers are reminded of everything Billy Flynn has brought to the role over the past decade. From Chad’s early days as a reluctant DiMera heir to his evolution into a devoted father and grieving widower, Flynn infused the character with depth, vulnerability, and quiet strength.

His chemistry with Marci Miller’s Abigail created one of the show’s most beloved supercouples. Their love story, filled with passion and tragedy, remains iconic. Flynn’s portrayal of Chad’s devastation after Abigail’s death was raw and unforgettable, resonating deeply with fans. Even in the complicated storyline with Cat, he brought a cautious optimism that made viewers root for healing—only to watch it slip away in classic soap fashion.

As Chad packs up his children’s belongings, shares tender moments with Thomas and Charlotte, and perhaps exchanges final words with family members like EJ or Kristen, every scene will feel heavier knowing what it represents. Salem without Chad—at least the Chad we’ve known under Billy Flynn—will feel undeniably different.

The ripple effects of his exit will linger. Cat is left questioning her worth and her future. Jack and Jennifer must sit with the uneasy reality of their “victory.” The DiMera family loses one of its more grounded, compassionate members. And fans are left saying goodbye to an era.

While Days of Our Lives’ advanced production schedule means Chad may still appear on screens into 2026, the storyline unfolding now marks Billy Flynn’s final, powerful performances. It’s a bittersweet farewell to an actor who gave so much heart to the role and to the viewers who embraced him.

Salem has seen countless exits over the years, but few have carried the quiet weight of a father choosing his children’s future over his own chance at happiness. In the grand tapestry of Days of Our Lives, this chapter closes with tears, resolve, and the dignity of a man putting family first.

Thank you, Billy Flynn, for bringing Chad DiMera to life so memorably. And to Days fans everywhere—brace yourselves. This goodbye is going to hurt.