This week in Days of Our Lives, Salem becomes the stage for one of the most daring and dangerous covert missions in recent memory. Leo Stark, always known for his mischievous curiosity and reckless charm, is about to make the biggest mistake of his life — breaking into the hospital’s most heavily guarded and secretive research wing. What he uncovers behind those steel doors could change everything, but the cost of the truth may be higher than even Leo is prepared to pay.

It all begins innocently enough — or so it seems. Disguised as a late-night maintenance worker, Leo sneaks into the hospital under the cover of flickering fluorescent lights and quiet hallways. Carrying a stolen ID badge, a makeshift toolkit, and a hacked USB loaded with malicious code, Leo is determined to confirm the rumors spreading like wildfire: that the hospital’s new psychiatric observation ward isn’t what it seems. Every camera he bypasses and every lock he picks pulls him deeper into the web of secrecy. He thinks he’s outsmarting the system — but someone else is watching.

Unknown to Leo, Rita Leslie — recently promoted to head of hospital security — has already noticed strange activity in the building’s digital logs. Access codes being used after hours. Doors opening with no personnel present. At first, she suspects a system glitch, but her gut tells her otherwise. When the monitors flash red with an alert showing unauthorized entry, Rita decides to handle it herself. Grabbing her flashlight and security tablet, she descends into the labyrinth beneath the hospital. What she’s about to find will change the course of her career — and her life.

Meanwhile, Leo’s infiltration escalates as he discovers a series of biometric doors and glass observation windows leading to a facility that looks more like a science fiction lab than a hospital wing. Cryogenic chambers hum quietly, tubes filled with shimmering fluids line the walls, and the eerie sound of mechanical ventilation fills the air. Leo presses his hand against one frosted window, straining to see what lies beyond — but before he can make out any shapes, a sharp voice cuts through the silence.

“Step away from the door, Stark.”

Rita stands behind him, flashlight beam fixed on his startled face. The tension crackles between them. Leo, ever the showman, tries to charm his way out, flashing a nervous grin. “Just making sure the wiring’s secure, darling.” But Rita isn’t buying it. “You’re coming with me,” she says firmly, gripping his arm.

Before she can escort him out, a shadow detaches itself from the far end of the corridor. It’s TA Ralph — the mysterious technical assistant assigned to this restricted ward. His expression is cold, unreadable, and his words slice through the heavy air: “Curiosity killed the cat, Stark.” His sudden appearance freezes Leo in place. Rumors have long swirled around Ralph — whispers that he once led secret military research projects, others that he’s working directly under EJ DiMera’s orders. Whatever his truth, one thing is clear: Leo’s stumbled into something far bigger than himself.

At that same moment, high above the hospital in a sleek office overlooking the grounds, EJ DiMera receives an encrypted message from Rita. “Sir, we’ve got a breach. It’s Leo Stark.” The instant EJ hears the name, his calm exterior cracks. The secret project he’s been cultivating in the hidden ward is too important to risk exposure. Without hesitation, EJ orders Rita to detain Leo — quietly. “No police. No publicity. Handle this internally,” he instructs, his voice dripping with control. He knows one leak could undo years of carefully orchestrated research.

What is EJ hiding? Beneath the hospital, his so-called “psychiatric unit” is actually the heart of his personal empire of experimentation. The ward has been converted into a covert laboratory where human subjects — borrowed from psychiatric patients — are exposed to extreme environmental simulations. Cryogenic cold, high-pressure chambers, sound frequencies designed to manipulate emotions — all part of EJ’s twisted ambition to control human behavior through psychological conditioning. He sees himself not as a villain, but as a visionary, pushing the boundaries of science and morality alike.

But now, Leo’s uninvited presence threatens to unravel it all.

Back in the corridor, Rita tries to maintain control of the situation, but Ralph steps closer, his metallic implants glinting under the dim light. He demands that Leo hand over any stolen data. Leo, trembling but defiant, slips into his trademark bravado: “Oh, come now, surely there’s a less dramatic way to greet a visitor.” Yet behind his humor, panic brews. Ralph’s emotionless stare suggests that Leo’s discovery might not just cost him his freedom — it might cost him his life.

Meanwhile, EJ monitors the situation through hidden feeds. His mind races with contingency plans. He can’t risk the ISA or the press catching wind of his experiments. In a chilling twist, he considers turning Leo into his next test subject. “Let’s see how my atmospheric simulations handle a man under pressure,” EJ muses darkly. He instructs Ralph to bring Leo upstairs, but alive — for now.

As Rita escorts Leo toward the elevator, she hesitates. There’s something in his terrified eyes that makes her pause. She’s followed EJ’s orders for years, but she’s beginning to question them. Is she protecting the hospital’s integrity — or helping to cover up something monstrous? That moment of doubt could be the only chance Leo has.

Back in EJ’s office, another storm is brewing — one of desire and deception. EJ’s trusted assistant, Cat Green, has become more than just his right hand. Their chemistry is undeniable, sparking whispers throughout the hospital. What EJ doesn’t know is that Cat isn’t who she seems. Behind her polished professionalism and sympathetic smile lies a secret: she’s an undercover ISA agent sent to investigate EJ himself.

Her mission was simple — get close, gather intel, and expose his illegal research. But feelings were never part of the plan. The deeper she dives into EJ’s world, the blurrier the line becomes between duty and desire. Their late-night strategy meetings have turned into something far more intimate, and every lingering glance threatens to ignite a scandal that could consume them both.

Cat’s emotional vulnerability traces back to her heartbreak with Chad DiMera, EJ’s own brother. Their doomed romance ended in betrayal, leaving her guarded and wounded. Now fate has thrown her into the arms of another DiMera — one more dangerous, more seductive, and far harder to resist. What started as a mission of justice may soon become a test of loyalty — to the ISA, or to her own heart.

As Salem braces for the fallout, alliances shift and secrets tighten their grip. Will Rita defy EJ’s orders and help Leo escape before he becomes a victim of the lab’s cruel experiments? Will Cat’s growing feelings for EJ compromise her mission and expose her as a double agent? And when EJ learns he’s been betrayed from both inside and out, how far will he go to silence those who threaten his empire?

The stage is set for a week of explosive revelations, dangerous seductions, and moral reckoning in Days of Our Lives. As Leo’s fate hangs in the balance, EJ’s forbidden lab may finally see the light — but not before darkness claims its price.

In Salem, no secret stays buried forever. And when truth collides with temptation, someone always pays the ultimate cost. Stay tuned — because the battle for control, love, and survival is only just beginning.