Forbidden Love: When Gabi Secretly Dates Her Daughter’s Crush — Arianna Breaks Down in Tears! DOOL
Love and betrayal have never been strangers to Days of Our Lives, but the latest storyline pushes the boundaries of family, loyalty, and morality in a way that even Salem’s most seasoned hearts aren’t ready for. Gabi Hernandez, long known for her fiery passion and questionable romantic decisions, finds herself at the center of a scandal that could destroy the most sacred bond of all — the one between mother and daughter.
This shocking storyline unfolds as Gabi and her daughter, Arianna Horton, unexpectedly fall for the same man — Theo Carver. What begins as innocent admiration spirals into a dangerous emotional battlefield, threatening to tear apart not only the Hernandez family but also the very fabric of trust that once held them together.
A Mother and Daughter Torn Apart by the Same Man
The seeds of this forbidden love triangle were planted when Theo Carver, freshly returned to Salem after a heartbreaking split from Claire Brady, began crossing paths with both Gabi and Arianna. Theo, now the charismatic CEO of DiMera Enterprises, has matured into a man of quiet strength and ambition — traits that instantly draw attention from everyone around him.
For young Arianna, Theo represents everything thrilling and unattainable about first love. She sees him as worldly, kind, and impossibly handsome — the kind of man that makes her teenage heart race. Her crush begins innocently enough, with daydreams and stolen glances. But as their friendship deepens, Arianna’s emotions become intense and consuming.
Yet, while Arianna is lost in the bliss of infatuation, Gabi finds herself pulled into Theo’s orbit for very different reasons. Their connection starts on a professional note when Theo reaches out to negotiate a deal to bring Gabi Chic back under the DiMera banner. Gabi resists at first — her pride and independence won’t allow her to be easily swayed. But Theo’s persistence, intelligence, and empathy begin to chip away at her defenses.
What starts as business slowly turns into something neither of them expects. Late-night strategy sessions become charged with unspoken tension. Every look lingers a second too long. Every touch feels like a spark waiting to ignite.
The Perfect Storm: Gabi’s Life in Ruins
Complicating this forbidden attraction is Gabi’s tumultuous relationship with Philip Kiriakis. Once her partner in both business and romance, their union is about to implode spectacularly. Behind Philip’s back, Gabi has been secretly collaborating with Tony DiMera in a plot to derail the Titan–DiMera merger.
When Philip uncovers her deception, it will be nothing short of catastrophic. Heartbroken and betrayed, he ends things immediately, leaving Gabi emotionally shattered and vulnerable. Suddenly, the confident woman who has always been in control finds herself alone, humiliated, and desperate for someone who understands her world.
Enter Theo.
He becomes her unlikely source of comfort, offering compassion when no one else will. Gabi begins to confide in him — her fears, her regrets, and the loneliness that comes from constantly being misunderstood. And when a misunderstanding causes Gabi to believe Theo betrayed her to Philip, the emotional confrontation that follows only intensifies their connection. In that charged moment — her tears, his defense, the relief when truth comes out — something inside them both changes. The air between them crackles with forbidden energy.
It’s the kind of passion that can’t be ignored — and won’t be forgiven.
Arianna’s Heartbreaking Discovery
While Gabi and Theo’s secret relationship blossoms in the shadows, Arianna’s innocent crush deepens into something dangerously real. She begins to confide in her friends about her feelings for Theo, unaware that her own mother is secretly involved with him.
But secrets in Salem never stay hidden for long.
Arianna finally gathers the courage to confess her feelings to Theo — a tender, awkward moment that ends in confusion when Theo hesitates, clearly burdened by something unsaid. The look in his eyes gives her pause, planting the first seeds of doubt. Then, one evening, she stumbles upon the devastating truth — catching her mother and Theo sharing a private, intimate moment that leaves no room for misunderstanding.
The sight of Gabi in Theo’s arms is like a knife to the heart. The betrayal is total. The one person Arianna trusted most has become her rival in love.
Her tears are uncontrollable as she confronts her mother, her voice shaking with disbelief and fury. “How could you do this to me? You knew how I felt about him!” Gabi, guilt-stricken and defensive, tries to explain, but there are no words that can undo the damage. The pain cuts too deep.
The emotional fallout is brutal. Arianna feels humiliated, betrayed, and robbed of something pure. For Gabi, the realization of what she’s done — and to whom — hits like a tidal wave. Her choices have not only jeopardized her reputation but have shattered her daughter’s heart in ways that may never fully heal.
Theo’s Impossible Dilemma
Caught in the center of this storm is Theo Carver himself, a man who never intended to cause harm. He cares for Arianna — sees her as bright, sweet, and full of potential — but his heart belongs to Gabi. Yet the moral weight of his choices begins to crush him. He’s torn between the woman who understands his ambitions and the young girl whose feelings he never meant to encourage.
Theo becomes the unwilling symbol of both love and destruction — a man forced to choose between desire and decency, knowing that whichever path he takes, someone he cares about will be left broken.
And as rumors of his entanglement with Gabi spread through Salem, the backlash threatens his position at DiMera Enterprises and his standing in the community. Salem’s whispers grow louder: How could Gabi compete with her own daughter? What kind of man gets caught between mother and child?
The scandal becomes impossible to contain.
The Devastating Fallout
As word spreads, the Hernandez family fractures under the weight of judgment and gossip. Will Horton, deeply protective of Arianna, confronts Gabi in a fiery showdown, accusing her of putting her desires above her daughter’s well-being. Even those who once defended Gabi now question her judgment.
Arianna withdraws, retreating into silence and heartbreak. She refuses to see either Gabi or Theo, her trust in both completely shattered. Salem’s youngest hearts have often faced tragedy, but rarely one born from such deep emotional betrayal.
For Gabi, the consequences extend far beyond the personal. Her reputation as a businesswoman and mother lies in ruins. Every step she takes now is shadowed by guilt and regret. The love she thought would bring her peace has instead left her more isolated than ever.
Theo, meanwhile, contemplates leaving Salem altogether, desperate to escape the wreckage of the lives he’s upended. But before he can go, he must face both women one last time — to apologize, to explain, and perhaps to accept that love built on secrecy can only end in pain.
The Question That Remains
Can a mother’s love ever be forgiven when it crosses such unthinkable lines? Will Arianna ever be able to see Gabi as her protector again — or will she forever view her as the woman who stole her first love?
Days of Our Lives promises that this storyline will reach explosive heights in the coming weeks, testing Salem’s moral boundaries like never before. The battle between experience and innocence, passion and duty, will leave no one unscarred.
As Gabi stands before her daughter, tears streaming down both their faces, one truth becomes painfully clear — love can be as destructive as it is beautiful. And in Salem, forbidden love always demands its price.
Because in Days of Our Lives, every secret burns — and every forbidden kiss leaves a scar that never truly heals.