Salem is ablaze with Christmas lights, but inside the DiMera house, the atmosphere is suffocating. Chanel Dupree-DiMera, Johnny’s sweet wife, is hiding a secret that could shatter the entire family.

After a routine health checkup, Chanel receives devastating news – results that nearly break her.

But instead of sharing with Johnny, she chooses silence, fearing the truth will destroy everything.

In the days that follow, Chanel tries to maintain a facade of normalcy: she still smiles, still cooks, still celebrates Christmas with Johnny.

But her eyes are always teary, and her hands tremble whenever the phone rings. Fans of Days of Our Lives are anxious: could Chanel be suffering from a dangerous disease, or has she discovered her involvement in the mysterious death of someone in the DiMera family?

Things reach a climax when Johnny accidentally finds Chanel crying in the bathroom, holding her test results. He demands to know the truth, but Chanel dismisses it, lying that it’s just “work stress.” The scene of the two looking at each other in the dim light is heartbreaking for anyone watching. Perhaps the most painful thing is the feeling of being deceived by the one you love.

Meanwhile, Gabi – Chanel’s best friend – is no better off. She’s struggling between her conscience and her love, knowing another secret that could save or destroy Philip Kiriakis. Two women, two different kinds of torment, but both trapped between love and fear. Christmas in Salem has never been as tearful as this year.