In Salem, scandal is never far away, but this time the stakes are higher than ever. The latest twist centers on EJ DiMera and Gwen Rizczech von Leuschner, two unlikely allies whose unholy alliance could change the face of University Hospital and put countless lives at risk. Their plot begins innocently enough on the surface: a generous purchase of the struggling hospital and the promise of opening a new free clinic for the community. But behind that shiny façade lies something far darker—a scam fueled by greed, betrayal, and sinister science.

It’s now confirmed that Gwen has been bankrolling EJ, providing him with half the funds necessary to take control of University Hospital. While residents of Salem initially believe this is a philanthropic gesture, the truth is chilling. The so-called “DiMera Family Free Clinic” is nothing more than a front, a smokescreen to disguise EJ’s deeper ambitions. He doesn’t care about the community, nor does Gwen. Their project is a cover for covert experiments, secret labs, and potentially deadly medical trials hidden beneath hospital walls.

The complications begin almost immediately. University Hospital’s staff—especially respected doctors like Marlena Evans and Kayla Brady—are horrified by EJ’s ruthless cost-cutting and corporate maneuvering. They openly oppose volunteering at any clinic that bears the DiMera name. Realizing that opposition could crush his plans, EJ considers rebranding. The fall promos tease the grand opening of the “Dr. Tom Horton Free Clinic,” suggesting EJ may cynically rename the project to smooth public relations, calm the furious medical community, and keep his secret science agenda alive.

But longtime Salem residents know nothing is ever as simple as it seems. If there’s shady science in the mix, one name always rises to the surface: Dr. Wilhelm Rolf. For decades, this deranged genius has been behind the most grotesque and shocking experiments in the DiMera arsenal—bringing people back from the dead, brainwashing victims with microchips, and even rewriting personalities through twisted science. Rumors swirl that Rolf may resurface, submarine and all, to serve as the mastermind behind EJ and Gwen’s new underground laboratory. If true, Salem could be standing on the brink of another wave of chaos.

The big question hanging over everyone’s head: what’s in it for Gwen? Why would she pour her von Leuschner inheritance into such a dangerous project? Without her fortune, EJ couldn’t have acquired the hospital at all. Yet her motives remain shadowy. Is she driven by revenge? A desire for power? Or simply the thrill of being aligned with one of Salem’s most infamous families? Her partnership with EJ leaves agents from both the ISA and FBI scrambling for answers. Cat Green and Rafe Hernandez are already combing through EJ’s financial records, searching for his mysterious co-buyer. So far, Gwen has slipped under their radar, but once they connect her to EJ, the investigation could explode.

And then there’s Shane Donovan, who smelled trouble the moment EJ entered the bidding war for University Hospital. His instincts prove correct as he pushes Cat back into the ISA fold as a financial analyst, pairing her with Rafe to dig deeper. With Gwen lurking in EJ’s office and nosing around blueprints for the clinic, Cat may stumble on more than she bargained for. The catch? The documents she saw were only the “public” plans. Hidden in plain sight is a secret science wing, carefully kept off the books, where the true horrors are destined to unfold.

Meanwhile, another mystery simmers: EJ’s growing obsession with his brother Stefan DiMera. While Gabby declares Stefan “dead to her,” EJ’s smirk hints he knows otherwise. Could Stefan be the first test subject for Dr. Rolf’s revived experiments? The last fans saw, Vivian Alamain’s schemes had left Stefan drugged and shipped away, but EJ’s moves suggest something more sinister. Whispers of Stefano DiMera’s spirit returning, combined with Kayla Brady’s ominous “Queen of the Night” dreams, hint that EJ may attempt to resurrect his father’s legacy—possibly implanting Stefano’s essence into Stefan’s body. If that’s true, then the so-called free clinic could be ground zero for one of the most diabolical plots Salem has ever seen.

The tension builds as the Hortons prepare to celebrate their own clinic opening, with beloved family members like Mike, Jeremy, Jennifer, and Jack set to return for the ribbon-cutting. But beneath the pomp and ceremony lies a dangerous parallel project, masterminded by EJ and Gwen. Salem may soon face two competing clinics, though only one hides a laboratory designed for sick, secret science.

With EJ despised by most of the town and Gwen loyal only to herself (and perhaps still to Xander in secret), the duo’s twisted scheme could target anyone. Residents who walk through the clinic doors may believe they’re receiving care, but they could instead become unwilling participants in experiments that would make even Stefano proud.

As autumn approaches in Salem, one thing is certain: EJ and Gwen’s sinister alliance will push boundaries, test loyalties, and remind everyone that in the world of the DiMeras, nothing is ever truly about healing—it’s about power, control, and survival.