Salem is on the verge of its most devastating emotional earthquake yet—and at the center of the chaos stands Gwen von Leuschner, armed with a plan so bold, so manipulative, and so heartbreakingly calculated that it could permanently rewrite the future of Xander Kiriakis and Sarah Horton.

The whispers are growing louder in every corner of town. Gwen has found the one weapon capable of severing Xander’s lingering ties to Sarah for good.

A baby.

This is not a reckless fantasy or a spur-of-the-moment mistake. This is strategy. This is a trap. And if Gwen succeeds, the consequences will ripple through Salem for years to come.

Xander Kiriakis: A Father Without His Child

To understand why Gwen’s plan is so dangerously effective, one must first understand the fragile emotional state Xander is in.

Once a ruthless henchman, Xander transformed into a devoted partner and father through his love for Sarah Horton and their daughter Victoria. That life—the routines, the laughter, the security—gave him something he had never known: purpose.

Now it’s gone.

Sarah has pulled away, choosing stability with Brady Black, and Xander has made the painful decision to step back rather than drag their daughter through a bitter custody battle. Though noble, the sacrifice has hollowed him out. His apartment is silent. The toys are gone. The echo of bedtime stories haunts him.

He isn’t just mourning Sarah—he is mourning the life he was finally brave enough to believe he deserved.

And Gwen sees it.

Gwen’s Masterstroke

Gwen von Leuschner has always been a survivor. When doors close, she breaks windows. And right now, every path she once relied on has vanished. Dmitri’s fortune is out of reach. Her reputation is in ruins. Her future, uncertain.

But Xander is still there.

Powerful. Wealthy. Vulnerable.

In Gwen’s mind, the solution is devastatingly simple: if she cannot be the woman he chooses, she will become the woman he can never leave.

A child would change everything.

Xander is fiercely loyal to blood. His love for Victoria—despite not being her biological father—proved his capacity for deep, unwavering devotion. Gwen knows that if she carries his child, he will step up. He will protect. He will provide.

And most importantly—he will stay.

A Familiar Flame Reignites

Spoilers suggest that Xander, desperate to escape his grief, will soon fall back into Gwen’s arms. For him, it will be a moment of weakness—familiar comfort after unbearable loss.

For Gwen, it will be the opening move in a long game.

She knows he will be thinking of Sarah even while he’s with her. But she also knows that possession is nine-tenths of the law in Salem. If she can go from being a mistake to being a mother, the balance of power shifts instantly.

She stops being a chapter in his past and becomes the future he cannot deny.

Why a Baby Changes Everything

A pregnancy is Gwen’s checkmate.

It erects a permanent wall between Xander and Sarah—one even forgiveness cannot cross. Sarah may have learned to live with heartbreak, but can she truly return to Xander if he is building a family with her greatest rival?

For Gwen, this isn’t just about love—it’s about survival. A Kiriakis heir means financial security, social standing, and protection in Salem. She envisions herself transformed from outcast to matriarch of a powerful dynasty.

And beneath all the scheming lies something painfully human: Gwen lost a baby once. The miscarriage with Chad DiMera scarred her deeply. In her twisted logic, this new child would be redemption—proof that fate owes her a second chance.

A Family Built on Lies

If Gwen’s plan succeeds, Xander will try to do the right thing. He will attempt to love Gwen for the sake of the child. He will recreate the domestic life he lost, hoping to fill the void left by Sarah and Victoria.

But love built on deception cannot stand.

Sooner or later, the truth will surface—and when it does, the fallout will devastate everyone in its path.

Part Two: Quiet Heartbreak in Salem (Tuesday, January 20, 2026)

While Gwen plots her future, the rest of Salem wrestles with grief, loss, and impossible choices.

Marlena’s Silent Sorrow

Sarah delivers good news—Marlena Evans is physically well. But emotionally, she is still shattered by John’s death. She admits she no longer feels like herself. The world seems foreign without him.

Sarah gently suggests Marlena might one day return to the hospital, but Marlena knows she needs time. Some wounds cannot be healed with medicine.

Before parting, Marlena reveals she knows about Sarah and Brady—and she worries, especially for Brady. Her concern comes from love, not judgment.

Brady and Kristen: A Fractured Family

Brady confronts Kristen about Rachel’s troubling behavior. He believes she needs professional help. Kristen insists she can handle it herself.

When Brady repeats the doctor’s advice—that Rachel must accept her parents will never reunite—Kristen feels blamed and attacked. The conversation erupts into painful accusations.

They may be united by love for their daughter, but their unresolved past threatens to tear her apart.

Final Word

Gwen’s baby plot is not just a storyline—it is a ticking emotional time bomb. As Salem braces for impact, one truth is clear:

Some families are born of love.
Others… are forged in lies.

And when the truth comes out, nothing will ever be the same again.