If the DiMera family represents a chaotic power struggle, then the story of Xander, Sarah, and Brady is a very realistic drama: a broken marriage, a new person appearing, and a man trying to fix things when it seems too late.

Xander is sitting in Marlena’s chair, but his mind is swirling like a storm.

Sarah has moved out, the divorce papers are on the table, and Brady’s shadow is growing ever clearer in the house that was once their home.

Marlena is one of the rare people who can make Xander sit down, shed his usual stubbornness and arrogance, and name his pain.

He admits he’s angry at Sarah for daring to leave, angry at Brady for daring to enter at that moment, but most of all, angry at himself. His past mistakes, impulsive decisions, and shady dealings are now coming back to bite him. He knew he couldn’t blame Sarah for being tired, but his heart couldn’t easily accept the fact that the woman he loved was holding hands with someone else.

During therapy, Xander talked about his jealousy, not just because Sarah had a new boyfriend, but also because Brady always seemed like the “safer” choice. Brady had a troubled past, but compared to Xander’s long list of sins, it was still brighter. He knew how to talk, how to stand by a woman when she was vulnerable, how to be a good “support system.” Xander, on the other hand, always dragged someone into dangerous situations whenever he wanted to protect them. That comparison gnawed at him little by little.

While Xander devoted himself to Marlena, on Sarah and Brady’s side, the flames were slowly spreading. Brady moved into the Kiriakis mansion, sharing the same space with Sarah. They began spending more late nights talking, more moments of unintentionally touching hands, unintentionally laughing together for longer than usual. The tragedies they’ve both experienced, the shared pain for their families and children, gradually draw them closer. Even without the film crew emphasizing it, the audience can clearly sense something glimmering within them.