In the January 16 episode of Days of Our Lives, a hungover Leo turned up at the DiMera mansion and made Gwen an offer that sounds practical until you think about it for a second. He’ll back off his investigation, he says, if she makes Dimitri disappear. Gwen doesn’t bite. Gwen says no, and everything just stops. That beat, awkward and unhelpful, is what nudged them into talking about something other than plans or leverage, even if it’s well past the point where it could fix anything.
Key Takeaways
- Leo and Gwen’s conversation cuts past blackmail and into unresolved history.
- Gwen forced Leo to confront the cost of avoiding a real choice.
- Both admitted that their resentment sits alongside lingering affection.
- Leo’s indecision is beginning to hurt everyone involved, not just him.
What Happened on DAYS
Leo (Greg Rikaart) told Gwen (Emily O’Brien) he’ll stay silent about her argument with EJ over the shipment at the gala, pitching it as a clean transaction where everyone benefits, and no one has to feel bad. He offers distance, her Von Leuschner money intact, and a tidy future that lets him stay married to Javi (Al Calderon) without dealing with Dimitri (Peter Porte) directly.
Gwen doesn’t entertain the fantasy for a second. She calls out what he’s actually doing, which is trying to ship temptation overseas so he doesn’t have to choose. When Leo insists there’s no dilemma because he loves Javi, Gwen names the missing piece without blinking, pointing out that Dimitri still owns his desire.
The exchange shifted when they both admitted the same contradiction: that they despise each other yet still feel the pull of shared history. Old memories surfaced, not as comfort, but as proof that some connections don’t evaporate just because they’re inconvenient.
Why It Matters
This scene works because it refuses to resolve the tension. Leo isn’t treated like a villain or a hero here. He’s just someone trying to keep the hurt manageable, and Gwen is the one person in the room who refuses to let him box it up and move on.
Gwen’s blunt framing of Leo’s choice isn’t cruelty. It’s clarity. One path offers safety and stability. The other chaos and heat, and the pretense that loving one erases wanting the other, only deepen the damage.
The Fallout
Leo can’t keep standing still without consequences. His refusal to choose is already bleeding into his marriage with Javi and keeping Dimitri emotionally tethered, whether he admits it or not.
For Gwen, it’s the moment where the games stop. She says what needs to be said, then steps aside and lets Leo deal with the decision he’s been putting off. On DAYS, that kind of honesty tends to echo long after the room empties.
MORE: Major cast shake-up on DAYS headed our way.
