Days of our Lives Recap, April 23, 2025: Alex brings big bucks at the bachelor auction

On Days of our Lives today, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the hospital fundraiser kicks off with bonding, bids, and big confrontations.

What happened on Days of our Lives

At the Horton house, Chad asked JJ to go to the fundraiser carnival with him and the kids. JJ declined and said a fight with Gabi had put him in a bad mood. While JJ didn’t provide details, he did say he understood why Gabi was so angry with him. Chad argued that JJ could use the fundraiser to get his mind off things. When Charlotte and Thomas came downstairs, they joined in Chad’s light-hearted implorations for “Uncle JJ” to come with them; JJ broke into a smile at the family’s antics.

In Horton Town Square, Kayla marveled at the setup for the fundraiser, which included game booths, a popcorn cart, balloons, and a big sign proclaiming “Save the Hospital.” Kayla expressed her hopes for the fundraiser’s success to a beaming Cat.

Later, Chad, his kids, and JJ arrived on the scene. The family greeted Cat and Kayla. Chad reintroduced Cat to Thomas and Charlotte. When Charlotte said she liked Cat’s name, Cat offered to take Charlotte to the face-painting booth and to have the little girl’s face painted like a cat. Thomas went along, too, opting for the dog option instead.

Once Kayla, Chad, and JJ were alone, Kayla gushed over the kids. Chad brought up EJ, and Kayla assured him EJ was getting better by the day. When she asked about potential leads, JJ mentioned Ava. Kayla sighed and hoped that Ava wasn’t involved for Tripp’s sake.

In Stephanie’s bedroom, Stephanie brought Alex coffee in bed. After some light flirtation, Alex admitted he’d been thinking about the confrontation with Xander. He didn’t know if leaving Sarah’s name out of it had been the right move. Ultimately, Stephanie and Alex agreed that telling Xander about Sarah would have only caused more problems. The talk turned to the fundraiser, and Stephanie reminded an unenthused Alex that he had signed up as an eligible bachelor.

Alex had second thoughts and wanted it made clear he wasn’t really eligible, but Stephanie convinced him he needed to play up his single status for bids. They flirted more and sealed the deal with a kiss. Stephanie laid out the ground rules for Alex. He didn’t get a “hall pass,” and the date would be “innocent” and “nonromantic” because he would reveal during said date that he was in a relationship with an “amazing woman.” Alex concurred, and then the couple sealed the revised deal with more than a kiss.

Later, Alex and Stephanie met with JJ and Kayla at the fundraiser. Their smiles quickly dissolved when they witnessed another brewing confrontation between Xander and Philip.

Earlier at the Kiriakis mansion, Sarah descended the stairs to find Xander in his bathrobe. She scolded him for not having dressed for the fundraiser yet. Xander ranted about everyone who had betrayed him. Cue Philip, who entered and announced he wanted to give Xander the “full truth.” He was not the only one who had betrayed Xander. “Your wife did, too!” Philip exclaimed.

With a big grin, Philip spilled all the details about Sarah’s involvement in the forgery cover-up. Xander turned to Sarah and demanded to know if it was true. As he called her name, Sarah jerked awake, revealing the encounter had been a dream. Xander had been trying to rouse her so she could get ready for the fundraiser.

Later, Xander and Sarah arrived at the fundraiser. Sarah wanted Xander to take the opportunity to forget about Philip for the day. Xander scowled and remarked, “Easier said than done.” Sarah followed his gaze and saw Philip milling about the storefronts.

As Philp approached, Xander lit into him and harshly advised his brother get out of town. Philip calmly told Xander that he had other family in Salem. Xander believed the family would be better off without Philip’s “lying, cheating ass” around. When JJ interceded, Xander demanded that the cop arrest Philip for fraud.

JJ asked for elaboration, so Xander – never taking his eyes off Philip -- made up a story on the fly about Philip engaging in untruthful business practices regarding a company under their control. JJ said lying wasn’t necessarily a crime, and Xander made an off-handed comment about killing his brother. Sarah told Xander to stop and attributed the remark to Xander’s “dry sense of humor.” JJ warned against the statement becoming action, as he was already dealing with one attempted murder investigation.

After JJ departed, Philip thanked Xander for not disclosing the letter forgery. Xander hadn’t done it for Philip, but to keep Wei Shin from making another move. He could still beat Philip “to a pulp,” though. When Xander made a move toward Philip, Sarah stopped him and emphatically suggested that Xander get them hot dogs. Xander begrudgingly complied.

Sarah apologized for Xander's behavior and thanked Philip for not outing her role in the cover-up. She didn’t think her marriage could survive the lie. Philip assured Sarah he had no interest in upending anyone else’s life and took full responsibility for his deception. From a distance, Xander watched with suspicion.

Over at the face-painting booth, Cat finished decorating Charlotte’s and Thomas’ faces. The kids admired her handiwork and asked if she’d done it before. Cat told them a story about transforming her sister Felicity into a “rainbow tiger” with paint. Thomas also asked Cat if she had any kids. Cat said she hoped to have children one day – “especially if they’re as cool as you guys.”

Chad observed the interaction with a smile. When Cat caught sight of him, he approached and bantered with the kids about their faces. Thomas suggested Chad was next in line. He wanted Cat to make his dad into a “rainbow tiger.”

Later, Cat put the finishing touches on Chad’s tiger face. She gave him a mirror, and he reacted with a mock scream. Charlotte and Thomas, on the other hand, affirmed that Cat was a “pro.” The chat turned to the bachelor auction, and Cat explained the process to Thomas and Charlotte. But when Charlotte learned that someone would be bidding to spend time with her daddy, she protested that he might not come back.

Chad bent down to eye level with Charlotte and promised his daughter that he would always come back to Thomas and her, because they were the most important people in his life. He hugged the little girl. Stephanie soon joined the group and offered to take Charlotte for a few rounds at the game booths. Thomas left to find JJ, leaving Chad and Cat alone.

Cat complimented Chad on his reassurances to Charlotte. She thought he was a great father. Chad got a text from Kayla about how well the fundraiser was going. Cat and Chad agreed that they made a good team. Their hands briefly connected, but they awkwardly pulled away.

At Rafe’s house, Leo and Javi gossiped about the bachelor lineup for the fundraiser. When Gabi entered the room, Javi turned the screen featuring the bachelors around so that Gabi could see one of his favorite available bachelors: Alex. While the couple gawked over Alex, Leo was reminded of the time Alex had threatened to kill him for what he’d done to Sonny. Javi sarcastically wondered if anyone else in town had a “death wish” against his boyfriend.

While Gabi rolled her eyes, Javi prodded her to give the bachelors a look. He wouldn’t tell JJ. “I don’t give a damn about JJ!” Gabi snapped. After the outburst, Gabi filled Javi and Leo in on JJ’s accusations against her.

When Gabi complained about JJ’s audacity, Leo suggested questioning her might not have been such an outrageous idea. Leo’s insinuation about her potential for murder further raised Gabi’s hackles, so Javi quickly intervened. Leo suggested that instead of the silent treatment, Gabi could get back at JJ by going to the fundraiser with them and bidding on a hot guy. Gabi glanced toward Alex’s picture on the laptop and smirked.

Later, Javi, Leo, and Gabi made their way to the Brady Pub, where the bachelor and bachelorette auctions were being held. Javi and Leo intended to place a bid on Alex, with Leo cracking that Alex was “very much into three-ways.” Javi swiped at him, and Leo claimed he was just kidding, as Javi was the only man for him. Gabi seemed to back off the idea of bidding until Javi persuaded her otherwise. She picked up a pen to sign up and sauntered off.

The crowd grew to include Stephanie, Kayla, and other onlookers. Kayla took center stage and began the auction by introducing Alex. Leo kicked off the festivities with a $500 bid. Stephanie upped the ante to $600, and Javi bested it with $700.

Stephanie raised the bid to $1,000. Just as Kayla declared, “Going once, going twice,” JJ entered the pub. When Gabi saw him, she blurted out a new high bid: $10,000. The crowd reacted with astonishment, especially Stephanie and Alex.

With a pointed glare at JJ, Gabi upped the bid to $15,000. A surprised Kayla concluded the bidding. In the aftermath, Javi and Leo needled JJ about Gabi’s impending date with Alex. JJ acted unfazed and commented that Gabi had spent an “insane” amount of money just to make him jealous.

Leo and Javi retreated to a corner and ruminated about their failed bids. “The best things in life are free,” Leo mused before sharing a kiss with Javi.

Meanwhile, Kayla profusely thanked Gabi for the generous donation. When Kayla left to mingle, Stephanie and Alex approached. Stephanie reiterated the thanks and called Alex “priceless.” Gabi observed that JJ was watching from the bar and began acting suggestively toward Alex.

Alex offered to let Gabi choose the place for the date. Stephanie again thanked Gabi and made a parting remark as she linked arms with Alex: “Some things money can’t buy.”

Gabi again approached Kayla, who was with JJ, and stated it would be good to go on a date with someone who hadn’t accused her of attempted murder and stalked off. JJ followed her and made an observation about Gabi’s big spending spree. He wished her a good time with her date. Gabi stormed out of the pub in response.

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