Days of our lives: Chad LOSES Both Kids – Jennifer Strikes With Custody Papers!
The emotional storm that has been brewing in Salem finally erupts this week as Chad DiMera finds himself on the brink of losing everything that matters most to him: Thomas and Charlotte. What began as tense disagreements between grieving in-laws spirals into an all-out legal war, one that exposes heartbreak, old wounds, and dangerous new threats hidden throughout town. As November 20th approaches, the lives of several Salem families collide in a dramatic chain of events that promises devastating consequences.
Jeremy Steps In With Hard Truths for Chad
On Thursday, November 20th, Jeremy Horton becomes an unexpected anchor for Chad during one of the darkest chapters of his life. Chad has been drowning in guilt, grief, and frustration since Jennifer Horton launched her shocking custody bid. Jeremy, who understands the complicated emotional history binding the Horton and DiMera families, steps in to offer critical advice that might be the only thing keeping Chad from completely breaking down.
Jeremy doesn’t sugarcoat the situation. He acknowledges Jennifer’s intense grief over Abigail’s death and how that grief has twisted into a fierce—if misguided—determination to “save” Thomas and Charlotte from what she sees as dangerous instability within the DiMera mansion. But Jeremy also knows that fighting fire with fire will only scorch Chad’s already fragile connection to Abigail’s family and, more importantly, destroy what little trust Thomas still has left in his father.
Chad feels trapped in an impossible corner. If he fights Jennifer aggressively, he risks pushing Thomas away for good. But if he backs down, he may lose both children forever. Jeremy urges him to stay calm, think strategically, and avoid feeding into Jennifer’s worst assumptions. Chad needs to protect his children—but not at the cost of torching every relationship Abigail worked so hard to keep intact.
Justin’s Blunt Warning to Jennifer
Meanwhile, Justin Kiriakis finds himself reluctantly representing Jennifer in her mission to remove Chad’s children from the DiMera household. As an experienced attorney who has seen countless emotionally charged custody battles, Justin feels compelled to give Jennifer a sobering—and necessary—dose of reality.
He tells her plainly that her odds of winning full custody are far from certain. Courts tend to prioritize stability, and Thomas and Charlotte have already endured unimaginable trauma after losing their mother. Moving them across the country to Boston, away from their school, their father, and their familiar routines, is a risky argument—one that a judge will scrutinize heavily.
Justin also warns her that many judges view grandparent-led custody grabs as punishment rather than protection, especially when the parent in question has no documented history of abuse or neglect. Jennifer stubbornly believes she is doing the right thing. And unfortunately, she believes she has the perfect weapon: Thomas himself.
Thomas has voiced his desire to leave Salem and live with Jennifer and Jack. That single factor could change everything. Children’s wishes carry weight in court—and Jennifer knows it.
Jennifer Strikes: Custody Papers Are Served
The conflict officially erupts when Jennifer delivers the blow Chad feared most: she serves him with custody papers. The moment he holds those documents, everything changes. This is no longer a family dispute. It is now a legal war.
The filing cites Thomas’s recent accident—when he ran from the mansion in a fury and was struck by a car after seeing Chad with Cady Green, a woman he blames for disrupting their lives. Jennifer’s attorneys argue that Chad broke his promise by continuing to see Cady, proving that he puts his romantic interests above his children’s emotional stability.
The paperwork also paints the DiMera mansion as a dangerous environment steeped in criminal activity, violence, and unpredictability. To Jennifer, the mansion represents everything she fears: chaos, corruption, and loss.
Chad immediately turns to EJ for legal guidance. But EJ, surprisingly, does not offer reassuring promises. Custody cases involving grieving families can swing in any direction. And with Thomas openly begging to live with his grandparents, Chad’s chances suddenly look far weaker than he imagined.
Chad’s Impossible Strategy Decision
Chad now faces a gut-wrenching choice. Should he fight with everything he has and risk worsening Thomas’s resentment? Or should he allow a temporary custody shift, hoping time and healing will eventually bring his children back home?
Some in Salem point out that Chad could undercut Jennifer’s credibility by calling Gwen, who could expose Jennifer’s past pill addiction and the danger she once posed to the children. But Chad knows that using Gwen as a weapon would only validate Jennifer’s fears that the DiMeras rely on manipulation and cruelty.
No matter what Chad chooses, he risks losing something he will never get back. And the tragedy is clear: everyone involved believes they are protecting Thomas and Charlotte—but their conflict may inflict even deeper wounds.
Part Two: A Day of Reckonings — November 18, 2025
As Chad’s world crumbles, the rest of Salem experiences its own turbulence—shocking reunions, returned threats, and emotional confrontations that will reshape relationships all across town.
Alex and Stephanie’s Peace Disrupted
Early in the day, Alex and Stephanie share what appears to be a quiet, domestic moment. But beneath the surface, tension simmers. Stephanie has been on edge for days, uneasy about strange sensations and the haunting feeling that someone is watching her. Alex notices her discomfort long before the threat becomes real.
Xander and Brady: Old Hatreds Reignite
Across town, Xander appears at Brady’s door seeking Marlene’s guidance. But Brady is in no mood for sympathy. With Kristen once again on the loose, Rachel acting out, and family stress building, Brady sees Xander as one more disaster waiting to strike.
Their argument escalates quickly. Brady calls out Xander’s violent past and refuses to let him dodge responsibility for the pain he’s caused. Xander struggles to stay calm, insisting he isn’t the man he used to be—and promising he will win Sarah back, even if it destroys him. Brady warns him that sometimes love means letting go, not clinging harder.
The Sami Brady Ex-Husbands Club
Later, the day takes a humorous turn as three familiar faces meet unintentionally at a bar: Rafe, EJ, and Lucas. In a rare moment of levity, Lucas jokes that they’ve just formed the first official meeting of the “Sami Brady Ex-Husbands Club.”
The laughter fades when Rafe reveals new information about Sami’s fiancé, Dante Tully. The background check is spotless. No criminal history. No red flags. Nothing suspicious at all—something EJ flatly refuses to believe. His jealousy and pride flare, setting the stage for renewed drama around Sami’s future.
Jada and Theo Find Peace in a Game of Chess
Meanwhile, Jada and Theo share a quiet moment of bonding at the community center as they play a game of chess. Their calm, grounded conversation stands in sharp contrast to the chaos unfolding around Salem.
The Stalker Returns — Stephanie in Danger
But the tranquility doesn’t last. When Stephanie receives an anonymous message, her worst fear comes rushing back: the stalker who terrorized her has returned. The wording is chillingly familiar—too specific, too personal. This is no prank.
Alex’s entire demeanor changes. He becomes protective, alert, scanning every window and door. The message is more threatening than any before… and it suggests the stalker has been watching Stephanie far more closely than anyone realized.
What begins as a quiet evening turns into a nightmare. The shadows around them feel suddenly alive, and the threat is closer than either of them dared imagine.
A Week That Changes Salem Forever
From Chad’s looming custody loss to the re-emergence of Stephanie’s stalker, Salem is heading into one of its darkest and most emotionally charged weeks of the year. Families are being torn apart. Secrets are resurfacing. And danger is creeping back into the lives of those who thought they were finally safe.
The battle for Thomas and Charlotte has only begun. And no matter who wins… something will be lost forever.
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