GOING, GOING, GONE FOR CHAD’S HEART?

Is anyone else getting heart palpitations thinking about what’s brewing in Salem? Because Chad DiMera and Cat Greene are about to serve us a plot twist that’s so deliciously soapy I can barely contain myself. The pair have been brainstorming ideas for the hospital fundraiser, and let me tell you—this isn’t just any charity event. This is about to become the stage for Salem’s next great romantic declaration!

Chad and Cat settled on organizing a street fair—cute, community-focused, perfect for families—but that’s not the juicy part. The REAL tea is that they’re planning bachelor and bachelorette auctions as part of the festivities. And if you don’t see where this is headed, you haven’t been watching soaps long enough!

THE AUCTION BLOCK THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

Let’s be real for a second. Cat suggested this auction idea for a reason, and I’m betting my entire soap collection she’s planning to put herself on that auction block. Strategic? Absolutely. Desperate? Maybe a little. But effective? We’re about to find out!

The writing is practically on the wall here—Cat will volunteer as a bachelorette, other men will start bidding, and suddenly Chad DiMera will have an epiphany. There’s nothing like watching someone else try to claim what you didn’t realize you wanted until that very moment. Classic soap opera catalyst!

And can we talk about the fact that Chad has actually moved past the whole “you-pretended-to-be-my-dead-wife” thing? That’s character growth, people! He understands that Cat was only posing as Abigail because Clyde Weston was threatening her. The man has forgiven her, but has he let himself feel what’s clearly developing between them?

JEALOUSY: THE ULTIMATE TRUTH SERUM

Picture this: Cat on stage, smiling nervously as the bidding starts. Some random Salem hottie raises his paddle, then another, and another. The camera pans to Chad’s face and—oh!—is that a flash of possessiveness we see? Is that his hand twitching toward his paddle?

I’m calling it now—Chad is going to wait until the last possible second (because DiMera men are nothing if not dramatic) before swooping in with a bid that silences the room. Cat will be shocked. The crowd will gasp. And just like that, we’ll have our next Salem power couple in the making.

The brilliance of this setup is that Chad won’t be able to deny his feelings any longer. Nothing forces a soap character to confront their emotions quite like watching someone else try to claim their love interest! It’s not subtle, but it’s effective—and it’s why we keep coming back for more.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR SALEM’S NEWEST POTENTIAL COUPLE?

If this auction plays out the way I think it will (and after decades of watching Salem’s drama unfold, I have a pretty good track record), Chad and Cat are about to embark on their first official date. Sure, she would have gone out with him without all the auction drama, but where’s the fun in that?

The real question is what happens after. Will Chad still see glimpses of Abigail when he looks at Cat? Will someone from Salem’s endless supply of troublemakers try to sabotage this budding relationship? Or—plot twist I’m not ready for but would absolutely devour—will Abigail somehow return from the dead just as Chad finally moves on?

Whatever happens, this fundraiser is shaping up to be anything but charitable when it comes to our emotions. Get your bidding paddles ready, Salem fans—this auction is about to get wild!