Days of our Lives Recap July 16: Lexie Warns Kristen, Holly Trusts EJ, and Marlena Exposes New Lead

TL;DR: In today’s Days of our Lives recap for Thursday, July 16, 2026, Lexie secretly warns Kristen about EJ’s plan, Holly pushes Sarah away, and Marlena points Cat toward a new lead in her investigation.

Days of our Lives Recap July 16

At the pub, Brady and Marlena compared notes about Kristen’s fear of EJ. They decided that as long as Rachel wasn’t collateral damage in the DiMera family drama, then they didn’t really care what was going on.

Brady shared that they were investigating if DiMera Pharmaceuticals were involved in Holly’s poisoning, or if she took the drugs herself.

Lexie Warns Kristen Before Collapsing

Kristen went for a jog in the park, but stopped to hear her voicemail. She heard a message from Lexie, who said they needed to talk somewhere away from the mansion — and that it was a matter of life and death.

At home, Lexie and Abe talked about how upset Theo was. Lexie told Abe that Theo just needed space and time — and so did she. Lexie told Abe that she wanted to visit her mother as she was in no shape to travel. Abe thought it was a wonderful idea and assumed that she’d want him to come with her, but she wanted to go alone.

Lexie got a response from Kristen and went to meet her in the park. She told her that she overheard EJ talking and he had a plan. Before she could finish her sentence, Lexie collapsed.

When she recovered, Lexie told Kristen that she was dying and didn’t want her to tell anyone. She shared that she told Abe that she wanted to see her mother, and she would tell Theo the same but then disappear.

Lexie insisted it was her choice. “Damn my brother. Damn him for putting you through this all over again,” Kristen seethed. She apologized for telling Theo about Stefano’s involvement in her cancer. Lexie said she would have to come to terms with EJ for bringing her back irresponsibly.

Lexie told Kristen there was something else EJ was up to and she needed to know about. She told her that he was plotting to put her on the family’s private island to spend the rest of her days there.

Holly Pushes Sarah Away

In the hospital, Holly recalled how Mrs. Choi wanted her charged. When Sarah came in, Holly was agitated and lamented that she had no visitors. With her mom and grandma gone, she only had Sarah, who thought she was “a lying drug addict.”

Sarah said she wanted to believe Holly, but the Coriseal somehow wound up in her system. Holly was extremely upset. She told Sarah that she appreciated that she saved her life, but if she didn’t believe her, then she didn’t want to be around her.

Sarah returned to the nurses’ station, where she saw Brady and told him about their blow out. Brady comforted her and promised not to give up investigating. Brady got the lab results, but the ISA tests showed no arsenic or Coriseal in his sample.

Sarah decided there must be something that Holly wasn’t telling her. When she left to check on a patient, Brady called Julie.

EJ Tries to Win Holly’s Trust

Felicity and Cat were having breakfast in the square when EJ walked up. Felicity asked if EJ and Cat were dating; they tried to avoid answering.

EJ joined them and noted that Felicity had just gotten her driver’s license. He suggested they take his Lamborghini for a spin sometime. He managed to be charming enough to win over Felicity before she left for school.

Before going to work, EJ told Cat he wanted to check in on Holly. When he went to her room, Marlena asked to speak to Cat alone about their last session.

In Holly’s room, EJ promised her that he knew how to get her case dismissed and said she had nothing to worry about. EJ sat down and asked if anything else was plaguing her. Holly said the only family she had in town was Sarah, and they weren’t too close at the moment. 

EJ told Holly that even though he wasn’t her stepfather anymore, he was still her family. Holly thanked EJ then promised him that she wasn’t doing drugs. EJ told her that he believed her.

When Sarah found EJ in Holly’s room, she kicked him out. Holly told her off about how she could have whoever she wanted as a visitor, and EJ reminded her he owned the place. EJ had to get to work anyway but told Holly he’d be back to visit.

Once alone, Holly ripped into Sarah, noting that at least when she told EJ she wasn’t using, he believed her. Holly told Sarah that the sight of her was stressing her out and told her to leave.

Marlena Gives Cat a New Lead

When Sarah returned to Brady, he told her he knew why there were no traces of arsenic or Coriseal in the sample: Julie had the well decontaminated. Sarah realized they would never be able to charge EJ, if there was ever a chance.

Meanwhile, in Marlena’s office, she told Cat that she discovered something that might be relevant to her investigation. Assuming she was looking into EJ, Marlena thought she should tell her what she knew to give her an extra path to pursue.

Marlena told Cat about the Coriseal issue and the possibility that EJ was behind the poisoning. She pointed out that a few people had died because of it, and EJ was capable of being there for Holly while also being responsible for her poisoning.

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