URGENT ALERT: Leo LEAVES Husband for Ex? Rafe RAIDS DiMera Lab – EJ FLEES! Next Week Spoilers Jan 5
URGENT ALERT: Leo LEAVES Husband for Ex? Rafe RAIDS DiMera Lab – EJ FLEES! Next Week Spoilers Jan 5 🚨🔥💔
As the calendar turns to the week of January 5th, Days of Our Lives is preparing to unleash a storm of drama across Salem that promises to shake relationships, expose dark secrets, and force several characters into life-altering decisions. This is not a quiet transition into the new year—this is a full-scale reckoning. Betrayals simmer beneath the surface, old loves refuse to stay buried, and dangerous power plays unfold behind locked laboratory doors. Every corner of Salem feels like it’s on the verge of explosion, and no family escapes unscathed.
At the heart of the chaos is a wedding night gone catastrophically wrong, a DiMera operation shrouded in secrecy, and a legal battle that threatens to rip a fragile family apart. Love, loyalty, ambition, and survival all collide in a week defined by emotional invasions, covert investigations, and impossible choices. Salem has seen upheaval before, but this week marks a turning point—one that could permanently alter alliances and futures.
A Wedding Night Destroyed: Leo, Javi, and the Ghost of Love Past
What should have been a blissful beginning for newlyweds Leo Stark and Javi Hernandez quickly devolves into heartbreak and confusion. For longtime viewers, Leo’s journey toward genuine love has been rocky at best. His past relationships were often fueled by manipulation, ambition, or survival instincts rather than true emotional connection. With Javi, however, Leo seemed different—softer, more grounded, and finally ready to build something real.
That fragile happiness doesn’t last long.
Just as Leo is poised to embrace married life, his past quite literally knocks on the door. Dimitri von Leuschner re-enters Salem at the worst possible moment, shattering the illusion that Leo has fully moved on. This isn’t a casual reunion or a chance encounter—it’s an emotional ambush. Dimitri arrives armed not with threats, but with pleas, confessions, and a burning need for redemption.
In the world of soaps, a man seeking forgiveness can be far more dangerous than one seeking revenge.
Dimitri claims that the breakup that drove Leo into Javi’s arms was built on a lie. According to him, the letter that ended their relationship—the one that convinced Leo he’d been abandoned—was never written by Dimitri at all. Instead, it was allegedly a forgery, designed to mislead and divide them. This revelation pulls the rug out from under Leo’s entire reality. If Dimitri is telling the truth, then Leo’s heartbreak, his healing, and even his marriage are rooted in deception.
Suddenly, Leo finds himself married to one man while emotionally tethered to another—caught between the safety of his present and the unresolved passion of his past.
Dimitri insists he never chose to leave. His story hints at darker forces at work—perhaps a kidnapping, coercion, or manipulation by powerful players with something to hide. Fingers point toward the DiMeras, whose history of control and moral flexibility makes them prime suspects. Dimitri’s desperation feels real, and his determination to reclaim Leo’s heart is unwavering.
And then comes the moment that changes everything.
Despite Leo’s devotion to Javi, Dimitri crosses a line—he kisses Leo. Whether this is an impulsive act, a calculated move, or a moment Leo subconsciously allows remains to be seen. What’s certain is that this kiss ignites the powder keg. It represents more than romantic confusion; it symbolizes Leo’s internal battle between the man he wants to be and the man he once was.
If Javi witnesses the kiss—or if Leo confesses out of guilt—the marriage could crumble before the honeymoon even begins. Salem loves nothing more than love triangles fueled by history, and this one threatens to consume everyone involved.
Gwen and EJ: Manipulation Behind the Curtain
While Leo’s personal life spirals, a colder and more calculated storyline unfolds in the shadows. Gwen Rizczech and EJ DiMera appear to be quietly pulling strings, orchestrating events with chilling precision. The timing of Dimitri’s return feels anything but accidental, raising serious questions about whether he’s acting of his own free will—or as a pawn in someone else’s game.
Hints suggest that Gwen and EJ may have been responsible for Dimitri’s original disappearance. If that’s true, why allow him back now?
The answer may lie with Leo himself. Curious, observant, and perpetually entangled in Salem’s secrets, Leo has a habit of uncovering things he shouldn’t. If he was getting too close to the truth about DiMera Enterprises’ latest clandestine project, distracting him with emotional chaos would be an effective way to keep him off the scent.
EJ, as the current power broker of the DiMera dynasty, is overseeing something that requires absolute secrecy. The lab referenced in spoilers is rumored to house ethically questionable experiments—possibly tied to Dr. Rolf’s infamous resurrection research or a new pharmaceutical venture with catastrophic side effects. Gwen appears to be acting as EJ’s fixer, managing personal loose ends so he can focus on the bigger picture.
But Dimitri is unpredictable. If he realizes he’s being used—or if his feelings for Leo override the plan—he could expose everything. Gwen’s confidence may prove to be her downfall.
Rafe and Cat Make Their Move
As the villains scheme, the heroes seize their chance. EJ’s sudden departure to Italy raises red flags, especially for Rafe Hernandez and Cat Greene. EJ claims business, but the timing suggests something more sinister—perhaps moving assets, silencing contacts, or covering tracks related to the secret project.
With EJ out of Salem, a rare window opens.
Rafe and Cat step into classic thriller territory, launching a covert investigation that could change everything. Expect tense scenes of break-ins, digital snooping, and close calls as they ra ce against the clock. Every locked door and encrypted file brings them closer to the truth—and closer to danger.

Cat, in particular, appears to be on the brink of a major discovery. While Leo is distracted by emotional turmoil, Cat is laser-focused, inching closer to uncovering what DiMera Enterprises is really hiding. Whether it’s a hidden person, a deadly experiment, or proof of a long-buried crime, whatever they find is poised to reshape Salem’s future.
Their discovery won’t just end this storyline—it will ignite the next one.
A Custody War and a Fragile Reunion
Shifting from espionage to the courtroom, the custody battle involving Chad DiMera heats up dramatically with the arrival of Melinda Trask. Known for her ruthless legal tactics, Melinda doesn’t aim to negotiate—she aims to win. With EJ abroad, she steps into the spotlight, wielding the law like a weapon.
But the emotional core of this conflict lies with Jack and Jennifer Deveraux. Their tentative reconciliation has given fans hope after years of heartbreak. Agreeing to try again is no small step for this legendary couple, but external pressures threaten to derail their progress.
Melinda’s strategy involves scrutinizing every crack in their relationship, every hint of instability she can exploit to strengthen Chad’s case. Jack and Jennifer must stand united—not just as partners, but as protectors of their family.
Interestingly, spoilers hint that Melinda may also help guide everyone toward a solution Chad can accept. Whether this is genuine mediation or a calculated ploy remains unclear. Is Melinda softening—or simply setting a trap?
A Week That Changes Everything
The week of January 5th on Days of Our Lives is defined by disruption. Dimitri disrupts a marriage. Gwen disrupts the truth. Rafe disrupts DiMera security. Melinda disrupts the legal balance. No one remains comfortable, and no storyline stays contained.
Leo faces a devastating choice between the man who offers stability and the man who represents unresolved passion. Gwen and EJ walk a dangerous tightrope, hoping their manipulations don’t collapse. Rafe and Cat race toward a truth that could cost them everything. And Jack and Jennifer fight to protect both their love and their family.
In Salem, certainty is an illusion—and next week proves once again that nothing ever goes according to plan. Tune in, because the fallout is only just beginning.