Salem is never short of complicated love affairs, but the story between Alex Kiriakis – Stephanie Johnson – and Steve makes people unable to sit still.

Alex and Stephanie are enjoying romantic days: candlelit evenings, light hugs, future plans.

But Steve, like a sharp knife, suddenly appears between the two with a past that neither wants to mention.

Steve carries suspicions about Alex – that he is hiding many things, that the disappearances, the midnight calls are not random.

When Steve begins to “investigate”, Stephanie is caught between two sides: a man she loves, and the father she cherishes. She fears that any choice will cause her to lose someone.

It is not by chance that Steve begins to pay attention. He has heard of a financial scandal involving Alex, a shady relationship with a woman from the past. And when a strange file about Alex is anonymously sent to Steve, things explode.

Alex is furious that his love is growing distant. He blames Stephanie for listening to Steve. Stephanie is confused because her image of the “perfect man” is being torn to pieces. Worse, Steve keeps showing up at the places Alex and Stephanie hang out — as a warning that “I’m watching.”

The battle isn’t just about trust, it’s about Alex’s past — something that could ruin everything if it’s exposed. Did Alex really betray Stephanie? Or is he just being wronged by old rumors and secrets?

Viewers seem divided. Half believe Steve, because he has the intuition of someone who’s been through a lot. The other half sides with Alex — because everyone deserves a chance to make things right.

But Stephanie is the most obvious: she’s caught in a war no one wants. Her love was stifled by skepticism, warnings, and Steve’s cold stare as he said, “Girl, sometimes people hide more than they say.”

And in some dark corner, someone was dropping bits of information, provoking everything to explode — just to see who would fall first.