Days of our Lives Recap July 27: Cat Shares Gwen’s Letter, Ari Shocks Gabi, Joy and Alex Clash

TL;DR: In today’s Days of our Lives recap for Monday, July 27th, 2026, Joy refuses to sign the co-parenting agreement, Leo sets out to find Gwen, Cat gives Rafe crucial evidence against EJ, and Gabi realizes someone else may have stolen her designs.

Days of our Lives Recap July 27

At the pub, Joy told Ari, in front of Alex, what a great help he had been for her and Kelsey. Joy gushed with gratitude repeatedly, and Ari told her she could call her anytime.

Ari went back to her table and watched Joy interact with Alex, telling him that she was good on her own and wouldn’t need his help as she had others to lean on. When he left, Ari slow-clapped behind her.

Ari accused Joy of clearly having her eye on Alex and acting like the over-gracious damsel in distress. Joy said she wouldn’t use her daughter to get a man, but did admit it would be nice for her daughter to have both her parents in her life — without having a psycho step-mom in the picture.

Ari warned Joy that Stephanie was her cousin and to watch how she talked about her. Joy assured her that she had no intention of causing issues in Stephanie and Alex’s marriage.

Outside the pub, Alex ran into Stephanie. She told him that Gwen seemed to have disappeared. Alex was infuriated that EJ probably did it but promised he wouldn’t provoke him with a confrontation.

Alex got a call from Justin letting him know that the revised birth certificate had arrived and that he and Joy needed to come sign some documents, including the co-parenting agreement.

Leo Prepares to Find Gwen

Leo found Marlena in the square and dramatically asked for her help. He told her that Gwen had disappeared and he needed to be the one to save her. He told her about the letter and how it disappeared.

Leo thought that EJ got rid of the letter and next he’d get rid of Leo. He told Marlena that although EJ terrified him, he would carry out his noble mission. “I’ll leave this cruel, cold world in a blaze of glory,” he promised. Leo went back to the Inn to pack a bag.

Later in the square, Gus saw Leo with a suitcase and asked where he was off to. He told him he was going to find his bold, beautiful friend, Gwen. Leo added to tell Javi he said goodbye. “And in case I never see him again, tell him I will always love him,” Leo said. Gus sighed as Leo took his suitcase and walked away.

Cat Gives Rafe the Letter

Cat went to Rafe and handed him the letter meant for Leo. She told him it was a confession by Gwen of crimes she co-conspired with EJ. When Rafe asked how she got it, Cat admitted she hacked into Gwen’s attorney’s computer and stole it.

Cat explained that Leo asked for her help and that he thought EJ “disappeared her” to stall the hospital sale. Rafe recapped what they knew, like EJ and Gwen had an experimental drug that they planned to take to the black market, but since they abandoned that idea, there was nothing of substance there.

Cat pointed out that in the letter, Cat says that she and EJ conspired to kidnap Dimitri to prevent him from divorcing her for the money. Rafe pointed out that Dimitri was held in Alamainia, but Cat noted that Dimitri was grabbed as he was released from prison, putting the kidnapping on U.S. soil.

Rafe agreed that it was the piece of the puzzle they’d been looking for: EJ’s silent partner. Cat said they had to find Dimitri and see whether he’d found any evidence as he’d intended, and whether it pointed to EJ.

Gabi Gets a New Lead

Philip went to the Hernandez house to talk to Gabi as Xander strongly suggested. He said he was hurt and insulted by her accusation that he and Xander stole her bag designs. He told her he was being dead honest and she had to take his word for it.

Philip told Gabi that Theo was devastated when she falsely accused him, and now she was doing the same thing to him, and it hurt. Philip rushed out past Ari as she came in.

Gabi told Ari that Philip was upset she’d accused him and Xander of stealing the designs. Ari asked if she had proof, and Gabi said they had access to the files. Ari noted she did as well.

Gabi was shocked when Ari said that she loved the pre-release purse she’d given her a few weeks prior but admitted that she’d misplaced it. Gabi didn’t know what to think, but they both realized that someone may have stolen the prototype. “Maybe it wasn’t Philip or Xander who stole my designs,” Gabi realized.

Philip Seeks Stephanie’s Advice

Philip then ran into Stephanie in the square and told her he had given Joy his number so she wouldn’t have to rely on Alex as much. Stephanie forewarned him that she could be a handful. Philip thought that would be a good distraction from the train wreck of his life.

Philip told Stephanie about the problems at Titan and Gabi’s accusations. He said that his forged letter started the whole mess, and he understood why Gabi was suspicious of him but needed to make it right.

Philip asked Stephanie, as she did PR, how to convince Gabi he was honest, as the day was long. “Sorry, I don’t work miracles,” she said. Philip said he’d been open and transparent with Gabi.

Stephanie empathized, noting that she, too, had offered apologies with no resolution and understood how upsetting it could be. Philip said she had time to work things out; for him, the window on the loan was closing.

Joy and Alex Reach an Impasse

At the Kiriakis mansion, Justin explained that he’d prepared the paperwork for them, including a revision to the family trust and Alex’s will to include Kelsey.

Justin also wanted Joy to make a will, noting that usually, if something happened to one parent, the child automatically would come into full custody of the other.

Joy told them in no way would she allow Stephanie around her daughter, even in the event of her death. Instead, she wanted it added to the agreement that his involvement with Kelsey was limited to when Stephanie wasn’t around.

Alex said he would never commit to separating his wife and his daughter for 18 years. Joy said she wouldn’t sign anything if that condition wasn’t in the agreement; Alex said he wouldn’t sign it if it was.

Marlena Questions Cat

At the hospital, Marlena told Cat that she’d talked to Leo and knew that she’d denied being ISA. Cat assured her that she was on the case despite what she told Leo. “I know,” Marlena said dryly.

Marlena told Cat she knew about the letter and how it went missing after Leo told Cat. “Did you disappear it?” she asked. Marlena told Cat that it seemed like she had strong feelings for EJ, and if it was affecting her work, she’d have to tell Andrew.

Cat understood but shared that she’d already turned the letter over to Rafe and Andrew. “I can say unequivocally that this is not a matter in which we should involve Leo Stark,” Cat told her. “Oh!” Marlena laughed, “That ship has sailed.”

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