Days of our Lives Recap Jan 8: Peter’s fate is sealed, Rafe and Jada investigate, Chad asks Belle on a date
In the Days of our Lives recap for Thursday, January 8, 2026, Peter’s fate is sealed, Rafe and Jada investigate, and Chad asks Belle on a date.
Days of our Lives Recap
Belle and Philip saw one another at the pub and laughed that their New Year’s Eves were uneventful. When Philip realized Belle was reading a book by 9:30pm, he said that if he had known, they could’ve gone to Small Bar together. “I’m sure Gabi would’ve loved that,” Belle laughed.
Stephanie and Alex saw Chad in the square and showed him the ring. Chad congratulated them and offered to put the announcement in the paper.
Later, Stephanie told Alex that when she was with Chad, she was dying for him to put a ring on her finger, but she actually wasn’t ready. She knew that she was now.
Alex told Stephanie that she wasn’t going on the book tour because he canceled it. Alex explained that he was trying to keep her safe but she argued that she had a contractual obligation.
Alex said that Titan Publishing reported to him. As he patted her hair, he said that he didn’t just make the decision a personal one — he made it as her boss. “You did not just say that to me,” Stephanie fumed.
Alex told Stephanie that technically he was her boss, but she reminded him she was Titan’s biggest bookseller and felt pressured for it to succeed. “All the more reason to keep you safe,” Alex told her.
Stephanie shared her fears that she was a one-hit wonder. Alex told her how much he believed in her, and promised to talk to her in advance about any decisions in the future.
“Would it be bad form to say ‘I love you’ to my boss?” Stephanie teased. As they kissed, someone in gloves, a dark hat, and black leather jacket, recorded them with their phone.
Kayla came to Kristen’s hospital room and told her that Peter was gone. She said it was a miracle that Peter even regained consciousness at all, and she ordered an autopsy so they’d know the exact cause of death.
After Chad walked away, Rafe and Jada arrived to see Peter, but Kayla told them that he died. Kayla told them the events as they happened and confirmed that Peter was alone when he coded.
Chad saw Kayla at the nurses’ station on his way to see Kristen and Theo. Kayla told him about Peter before he went to see Kristen.
Chad tried to comfort Kristen, but she told him what he said to her when he briefly woke up. Chad firmly told Kristen that his life ended the way it was meant to, but Kristen had a strange feeling it didn’t.
Rafe came to ask Kristen questions, but she didn’t want to talk to him. Before leaving, Rafe noted that he’d never seen Kristen sad before.
Between having her daughter institutionalized and losing her brother, Kristen said that she had a lot to be sad about. Rafe said he knew it wasn’t the same, but empathized that his sister died in the same hospital as well.
Rafe sat down and tenderly shared that he knew how she felt, and assured her that Peter’s death wasn’t her fault. Kristen said the only thing that would make her feel better was revenge on EJ. She thought they had that in common.
Gabi brought snacks to Theo in the hospital. He told her he was still a little out of it, but she smiled and said she thought that “loopy Theo” was kind of cute. “You think I’m cute, huh. I’ll be sure to tell Philip you said so,” Theo joked.
Gabi recalled how Theo was with her just before he disappeared. She was really glad he was okay. Theo mused over the fact that a man whom he never met hated him that much.
Jada came in to ask Theo some questions, so Gabi left. Jada told Theo that seeing him being taken out of the crypt scared her, and she was glad he was okay.
Theo recounted what he could remember as Jada recorded his statement. He was shocked to find out that Peter really had the gas to kill them. He wanted to know how they got out of the crypt.
Jada told Theo how Kristen tricked Peter and then saved them all. Jada told Theo that Peter died.
Gabi met up with Philip in the square. She surprised him by saying that she was worried about Javi and Leo and that she actually thought that Leo was the one for Javi.
Gabi and Philip gave humorous summaries of their love lives in the past and agreed it’s been hard moving on — until now. Gabi said how unexpected it was for her to feel so comfortable with Philip and she wanted to get used to it.
In the pub, Chad ran into Belle and thought they should talk about how they matched on a dating app. After some fumbling through the conversation, and both admitting they were rebounding, Chad asked Belle on a date and Belle accepted.