Kristen Explodes Over Gabi and Stefan’s ‘Reprehensible’ Scheme — Plus, a Nasty Fight With Chad Leaves Stephanie In Tears

At home, Marlena tells Brady that John wants them all to have dinner at Grandpa Tim’s new place. Perfect, Brady says. It’ll allow them to celebrate his getting Rachel back — thanks to Stefan and Gabi. When Marlena questions him, Brady admits they’re going to make it look like Kristen’s abusing Rachel. “What?!” Marlena gasps.

As Gabi edits the video of Rachel, she tells Stefan that, as a mother, she’s having second thoughts. Stefan gets it, but it’s a means to an end. The video will never go public and Rachel will never be harmed by this. When Gabi’s done, Stefan calls the video a cinematic masterpiece. It will ensure Kristen does whatever they want so it doesn’t get in front of a judge. Gabi still feels uneasy — about Brady as well. She knows he’ll want to use the video himself. Stefan says if he’ll find another way to get his daughter back.

After a delightful sibling lunch at The Bistro, EJ and Kristen stroll through the Square, where he brings up business. And there it is, Kristen snarks, assuming he wants to talk about her DiMera shares. He recounts how Stefan and Gabi refused to call an ambulance after Vivian shot Dimitri until he signed over his shares. Kristen oddly respects that. EJ thinks they could target her next. So, to keep her safe, she should transfer her shares to him — temporarily, of course. Kristen bursts into laughter. Fine, she can keep her shares, EJ says, but she’ll have to help him vote Stefan out. Kristen needs time to think about it.

Someone watches through the Brady Pub window as Chad and Stephanie sit at a table. He relays what Steve said about her wanting to get married. Stephanie’s embarrassed, but admits Steve is right. She didn’t want to pressure him, but wonders, if he doesn’t see marriage in their future, why did he invite her to move in with him and his kids? Sputtering, Chad says it was the next natural step. “What’s the next step after that?” she asks. Marriage, he responds. Eventually. She asks if he’s having second thoughts about them.

At home, Brady admits to Marlena that the plan is extreme, but while Kristen would never hurt Rachel physically, she’s already caused emotional damage. He fears Kristen will turn Rachel against him. A horrified Marlena wonders how a judge, or Rachel, will feel upon learning the truth.

In Kayla’s office, Steve tells his wife how he tried to get Chad to step up with Stephanie. Kayla thinks he could have made things worse. Steve wants to go back over there, but Kayla tells him to butt out. He worries Stephanie will never be able to compete with Chad’s love for Abigail. Kayla recalls how hard it was for her when they thought Steve died. A part of her did, too. In flashback, an injured Steve weakly thanks Kayla for his life. He was nothing without her. He says he loves her before flatlining.

At the Pub, Chad tells Stephanie how happy he is living with her, but he’s caught off guard. He thought things were going well. Stephanie knows she’ll never escape Abigail’s shadow. She recounts how he pulled away on Abigail’s birthday and excluded her from visiting her grave. Chad thought he and kids should have done that as a family. “And what am I?” she asks. She feels like she doesn’t belong in her own home. He wants to build a life with her, but he needs some leeway. She’s tried to respect his feelings, but it’s not reciprocated. “You’re not the one whose wife was brutally murdered!” he fires back.

At John and Marlena’s, Brady admits the plan is risky, but it’s his only move right now. He calls Stefan, wondering when he can expect the video. Stefan says they’ll be right over. After Stefan hangs up, Kristen returns home. She tells them EJ made a strong pitch about why she should throw in with him. Gabi wants to pitch her as well and shows her the video. Kristen sees Rachel with a made-up black eye and cut lip, saying her mommy did it to her.

Irate, Kristen calls what they’ve done reprehensible. She would never hurt her daughter. “Are you sure about that?” Gabi asks, playing the video of Kristen shouting that she’ll discipline Rachel however she sees fit. Kristen explodes, wondering why Stefan’s setting her up. “I think you know,” he calmly responds. They’ll be happy to delete the video if she hands over her shares. If not, they’ll give the video to Brady.

At home, Brady tells a disapproving Marlena that Tate called him an absent father — and he’s not wrong. So, he needs to be there for his daughter, who he hasn’t seen since losing custody. He won’t let Kristen warp Rachel’s mind like Stefano warped hers. Marlena tells him this isn’t the way to get his daughter back before heading back to the hospital.

At the hospital, Steve and Kayla reminisce about Steve returning to her. Kayla thought she’d never have love again. Steve wonders if the same is true for Chad, and he’ll never get over Abigail. Kayla says they have to let him figure it out and be there for Stephanie no matter what happens.

After Chad apologizes for his outburst, Stephanie says she has her own baggage. While it might not compare to his, she won’t make herself small in this relationship. When he encourages her to open up, Stephanie admits she fears Chad will ghost her like the guy in Seattle did when things got serious. Chad insists he’d never do that to her. She fears she’s misreading the situation because she thought Chad wanted to marry her. He does… eventually. She wishes she could believe that. Chad says she can because he loves her. “Just not as much as your dead wife,” she retorts before leaving. Someone watches her from the bushes as she exits the Pub.

Kristen carries documents into the DiMera living room. Stefan and Gabi say she can keep the money from the dividends; they just want the voting power. They also need her to sway Peter. Kristen reminds Stefan it won’t give him enough power to control DiMera. Not yet, he says. In the meantime, it will keep EJ from ousting Stefan. Kristen reluctantly takes a pen.

Later, Kristen floors EJ by revealing she signed over her shares to Gabi and Stefan. Meanwhile, Stefan and Gabi visit Brady to tell him they double-crossed him. Gabi has to stop Brady from lunging at Stefan.

After finding a movie for the kids to watch, Kate finds a glum Chad at the bar. He tells her Stephanie left after they got into a fight. She asks what it was about. What else… Abigail.

Stephanie comes home in tears as someone approaches her door. Inside, she talks to Steve on the phone about what happened. She hangs up when someone knocks. Assuming it’s Trick or Treaters, Stephanie grabs a candy bowl and opens the door. She drops the bowl, stunned by whatever is on the other side. “Oh, my God.”