While Salem is in chaos, the Johnson family moves viewers with a series of emotional scenes.

In the first episode of the new year, Steve Johnson receives a strange gift delivered to him without a sender.

Upon opening it, he is shocked to discover it’s the old watch he gave Stephanie when she was a child – a gift thought to have been lost in a fire long ago.

When Steve brings it to his daughter, Stephanie bursts into tears, hugging her father tightly.

She reveals that a mysterious person has sent another letter, saying, “All wounds will heal if we open our hearts.” This leads them to suspect that the person behind it is none other than Kayla, who disappeared months after an international mission and was presumed dead.

The scene of Steve holding his daughter’s hand, his eyes trembling with a mixture of joy and fear, was hailed by audiences as one of the most humane moments of the year. Online, comments poured in: “Finally, DOOL gives us a reason to cry, not just to be shocked.”

The director revealed that this storyline is only just beginning – and Stephanie’s gift could be a clue leading to a shocking return, with the character Kayla possibly still alive. Will this be a miracle at the start of the year, or just a twist of fate?