This week, the spotlight falls on Stephanie Johnson, a beautiful, intelligent woman with a double secret that stuns the audience.

During the day, she is a PR specialist for Titan Industries; at night, she transforms into Anastasia Sands – the hottest romance novel author in America.

An identity that even her lover, Alex Kiriakis, is unaware of.

Drama breaks out when her ex – Jeremy – suddenly appears in Salem.

He reveals that he is the “muse” character of the novel One Stormy Night, and Stephanie used their entire past to write the story. When the truth is revealed at the book signing, the flashbulbs flash, the name Anastasia Sands appears on the big screen, the audience falls silent for a few seconds before chaos erupts.

Alex stands still, eyes red; Jeremy smiles meaningfully; Stephanie, who built her world on lies, can only tremble. In the leaked clip, she whispers: “I just want to be loved, not judged.” But that sentence does not save her.

At the same time, a new character appears: Liam Northrop (Hank Northrop), Abe Carver’s mentee – who used to bully Theo Carver in high school. Liam comes to Salem with a polite smile but his eyes hide a trace of jealousy. Does he want to make amends, or revenge? When Abe trusts him with a community project, Theo feels the past coming back to swallow him.

Stephanie is exposed; Liam rises; two different stories but lead to the same thing: all the masks in Salem are falling.

Salem – where secrecy is currency – is about to witness a “collapse” of honor.