Happiness seemed to be on the horizon for Johnny DiMera and Chanel Dupree when they decided to adopt a child.

They prepared their bedroom, learned how to care for a child, and dreamed of starting a family.

But life in Salem was never easy.

When Sophia suddenly appeared, Johnny and Chanel’s plans were thrown into turmoil.

Sophia—a mysterious woman with a soft exterior—was the one who turned everything upside down. She stood before the child welfare board, telling suspicious stories about Johnny: from his emotional instability, his past financial scandals, to his “unpredictable temperament.” No one knew how much of what she said was true, but it was enough to make the board re-examine his case.

Chanel stood beside Johnny, trying to stay calm. But inside, she was about to explode: why was Sophia targeting them? What could make a real person suddenly interfere with her family’s happiness? That night, Chanel burst into tears as she looked at the empty hallway, wondering if she deserved to be a mother.

Johnny did not give up. He ran everywhere looking for evidence that Sophia had personal motives. One day, he caught Sophia talking to a lawyer, mentioning that “the new sentence would stop everything.” Johnny understood immediately: Sophia did not want to “protect the child” — she wanted to destroy his family.

Many people in Salem whispered to each other that Sophia had a complicated relationship with Johnny in the past. Could it be an old love that had not been let go? Or a hidden grudge? Johnny and Chanel suddenly became the center of the law, procedures, records… while Sophia stood outside, throwing stones and hiding her hand.

The most heartbreaking material was the prospect: if Johnny and Chanel lost custody of their child, they would break up. This pressure weighed heavily on every gesture, every word. There was a moment when Johnny looked at Chanel, his hands shaking, and said, “If we don’t get the baby… will you stay with me?” Chanel was silent, tears streaming down her face, because she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to bear the shock herself.

A custody battle is more than just a legal process — it suffocates trust, tests love, and exposes the dark corners of humanity. And Sophia? She still watched coldly, like the director of a tragic play in which all the actors were unaware they were being led astray.