In a powerful and heartbreaking twist coming to Days of Our Lives, the emotional landscape of Salem is about to shift forever. Chad DiMera, a character audiences have followed for more than a decade, is pushed into the darkest chapter of his life as he faces a custody battle he never imagined would turn so catastrophic. What begins as a conflict over parenting quickly escalates into a permanent farewell that marks the end of Billy Flynn’s monumental run as Chad. The fallout of this storyline will send shockwaves through the Horton and DiMera families—and leave Salem changed for years to come.

The Custody War Erupts After Thomas’s Accident

What sparks this battle is the tragic accident involving young Thomas. His injuries—and the emotional trauma surrounding them—push Jennifer Horton into making a drastic, life-altering move. Convinced that Chad’s involvement with Cat Green has severely clouded his judgment, Jennifer decides she must fight for full custody of Thomas and Charlotte. She believes that removing the children from Chad’s unstable environment is the only way to protect them.

Jennifer, played by the iconic Melissa Reeves, steps into the legal arena with full force. She argues that Chad’s ongoing ties to Cat—who cruelly impersonated Abigail—prove he is incapable of providing a stable home. The deception shattered Thomas emotionally, leaving him grappling with betrayal and confusion after believing, even for a moment, that his mother had come back from the dead.

Thomas’s anger toward Chad becomes one of Jennifer’s strongest arguments. The child feels misled, violated, and deeply hurt, making the court take a hard look at Chad’s recent decisions. With each revelation, Jennifer’s case grows more persuasive.

Jack Joins the Fight

Jack Deveraux stands firmly at Jennifer’s side. Matthew Ashford’s portrayal reminds viewers why the Horton-Deveraux family has always stood as a moral anchor in Salem. Jack wants the children taken out of the chaos that has consumed the DiMera household. He and Jennifer make it clear: Boston is where Thomas and Charlotte belong, far from the turmoil surrounding their father.

Together, Jack and Jennifer present a united front in court, painting a picture of stability, calm, and safety—everything they believe Chad can no longer offer.

Chad at His Breaking Point

As legal tensions rise, Chad finds himself cornered emotionally, morally, and legally. Salem’s residents whisper their opinions, and the court takes note. Even though fans understand Chad’s relationship with Cat was born out of grief and manipulation, the people of Salem don’t see it that way. To them, Chad appears vulnerable, unstable, and unable to put his children first while drowning in unresolved sorrow over Abigail’s death.

Jennifer’s legal team uses every mistake Chad has made—every questionable choice, every emotional lapse—to build an image of a father who has lost control. Thomas’s accident, which occurred while the boy was overwhelmed by the chaos Cat brought into their lives, becomes the centerpiece of Jennifer’s argument for custody.

Chad’s guilt hits him like a tidal wave. Not only is he forced to defend himself as a parent, but he must face the truth that his grief-driven decisions may have caused real harm. Watching Thomas pull away, feeling Charlotte slip from his grasp, and knowing Jennifer believes he’s placing them at risk—these moments push Chad toward a crisis he may not recover from.

Billy Flynn’s Departure Hidden in the Story

Behind the scenes, this emotional arc is more than just another Salem legal battle. It is the carefully crafted exit storyline for actor Billy Flynn, who announced earlier this year that he would be leaving Days of Our Lives after a remarkable ten-year run.

Flynn has already completed his final filming sessions, wrapping up shooting months ahead due to the show’s unique year-in-advance production schedule. While Flynn has simultaneously appeared on both Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless, the storyline is now reaching the point where viewers must say goodbye.

However, Flynn’s exit isn’t the permanent end of Chad as a character. In a stunning twist, Connor Floyd—best known for playing Chance Chancellor on The Young and the Restless—is stepping into the role. Chad will disappear from Salem for several months in-story before resurfacing in spring 2026 with a “new look” and a reimagined direction.

A Double Exit for the DiMera Children 

At the same time, young actor Cary Christopher, who portrays Thomas, has announced his departure as well. This opens a natural path for the show to write both Chad and Thomas (and likely Charlotte) offscreen in a single cohesive movement. The writers cleverly avoid messy explanations by aligning all the departures through the custody ruling.

Regardless of who wins in court, the conclusion remains the same: Chad, Thomas, and Charlotte leave Salem. If Chad loses custody—as spoilers strongly suggest—Jennifer and Jack take the children to Boston. Chad, heartbroken and feeling utterly shattered, decides to follow them rather than disappear from their lives.

If Chad were to win, he would still choose to leave Salem, unable to continue raising his children in a town filled with memories of Abigail, painful judgments, and Cat’s deception. Either way, Salem will lose three familiar faces.

Cat Green’s Impact HAUNTS Chad

Cat Green remains the single most destructive force in this storyline. Her impersonation of Abigail didn’t just manipulate Chad; it ripped open wounds the DiMera family had barely begun to heal. Young Thomas believing his mother had returned was a cruelty that sent the entire family spiraling.

Jennifer’s rage toward Chad centers on this betrayal. Even after Cat’s scheme was exposed, Chad continued interacting with her—moments Jennifer interpreted as unacceptable, even immoral. As far as Jennifer is concerned, any father who could still comfort the woman who traumatized his children has lost the ability to protect them.

This anger directly influences Thomas’s emotional breakdown and decision to run away—leading to the accident that turned the custody dispute into a full-scale battle.

Flynn Reflects on His Goodbye

Billy Flynn has opened up candidly about leaving Days. He expressed profound gratitude for the decade-long journey that shaped him as both an actor and a man. Flynn described the daily challenges of the intense filming schedule as a “warrior’s training ground”—something that molded his craft in ways he never anticipated.

He spoke about the friendships he formed on set, acknowledging that saying farewell to castmates who shared weddings, births, and hardships with him feels like leaving a family.

While excited about his future on The Young and the Restless, Flynn is deeply emotional about stepping away from Chad. He hopes fans will embrace his successor with the same support they showed him.

A Holiday Farewell

As Salem enters the Christmas season, the custody battle will reach its emotional peak. Chad’s final scenes—expected to air around the holidays or shortly after—will be heartbreaking. Viewers may see Chad share tearful goodbyes with the Horton family, mourn the life he is losing piece by piece, and ultimately accept that walking away is the only choice left.

The months between Flynn’s exit and Connor Floyd’s debut will allow the writers to rebuild the DiMera landscape before reintroducing Chad with a transformed perspective.

What’s Next for Chad?

When Chad returns under Floyd’s portrayal, the character is expected to take on a new chapter. Spoilers hint that Chad may tackle the corruption within DiMera Enterprises or rebuild damaged relationships with Jennifer and Jack from a healthier emotional place. His time away—and his heartbreak—could finally push him into becoming the man Abigail always believed he could be.

For now, however, viewers must prepare to say goodbye to Billy Flynn’s Chad—one of the most beloved characters of the past decade—as he walks away from Salem devastated, defeated, and alone.

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