KIRIAKIS COUSINS LAUNCH ATTACK WHILE EJ FIGHTS FOR HIS LIFE

The gloves are officially OFF in Salem’s corporate world! While EJ DiMera lies in a medically-induced coma fighting for his life, Xander Cook and Philip Kiriakis are making their boldest move yet against DiMera Enterprises. Talk about kicking a man when he’s down!

OPPORTUNISTIC STRIKE OR CALCULATED SCHEME?

With the DiMera family distracted by accusations and the ongoing “Who Shot EJ?” investigation, the Kiriakis cousins see this as their golden opportunity to finally achieve what Victor Kiriakis always dreamed of—taking control of the DiMera empire once and for all.

Sources reveal that Xander convinced Philip that now is the perfect moment to strike, arguing that with EJ out of commission and the remaining DiMeras scrambling to figure out who pulled the trigger, DiMera Enterprises is more vulnerable than it’s ever been. The timing couldn’t be more perfect… or more suspicious.

“We’ve been working on a strategy for weeks,” Xander reportedly told investors. “With the current leadership crisis at DiMera, shareholders deserve stability that only Titan can provide.”

THE DIMERA FAMILY ON DEFENSE

Meanwhile, the DiMeras aren’t exactly sitting idle. Kristen DiMera is furious about the attempted takeover, especially while dealing with interrogations from both JJ Deveraux and Melinda Trask regarding her potential involvement in her brother’s shooting.

Stefan DiMera has also been alerted to the Kiriakis plan, though he’s been strangely quiet. Could he possibly see this as his own opportunity to consolidate power within the company while EJ is out of the picture? The DiMera siblings have never been known for their unity.

A SUSPICIOUS COINCIDENCE?

Here’s where things get really interesting. While Xander and Philip aren’t officially on the suspect list for EJ’s shooting, their aggressive corporate move immediately following the attack raises some eyebrows. The timing is just a little too convenient, isn’t it?

Salem PD hasn’t publicly connected these dots yet, but sources close to the investigation reveal that detectives are looking at everyone with motive—and what better motive than eliminating the biggest obstacle to a corporate takeover?

“It’s a legitimate business strategy,” Philip insisted when questioned about the timing. “We’ve been planning this move for months. The current situation just accelerated our timeline.”

INTERNAL COMPLICATIONS BREWING

Even if the cousins aren’t behind EJ’s shooting, their takeover attempt faces serious obstacles. For one, Alex Kiriakis is reportedly holding onto a significant secret about Philip—possibly related to forged documents that Philip used to stake his claim at Titan.

Sarah Horton has expressed concerns to Maggie Horton about her husband’s involvement, especially after discovering what might be a fake letter. If Xander discovers that Philip has been manipulating him, their united front could crumble spectacularly.

To further complicate matters, Vivian Alamain has returned to Salem, and she’s never one to sit on the sidelines during a corporate war. Her agenda remains unclear, but one thing’s certain—she won’t let the Kiriakis boys have all the fun.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE KIRIAKIS COUSINS?

The duo plans to approach key DiMera shareholders, including Wei Shin, to secure the votes needed for their hostile takeover. They’ve already scheduled meetings with major investors and are preparing a presentation highlighting what they call “Kristen’s mismanagement” of the company.

But corporate takeovers in Salem rarely go as planned. Between family secrets, unexpected alliances, and the looming question of who actually shot EJ, this power play could backfire in spectacular fashion.

Will the Kiriakis cousins finally achieve what Victor never could? Or will they find themselves on the losing end of Salem’s newest power struggle—or worse, as prime suspects in a shooting investigation?

One thing’s for sure—in Salem, the line between business and personal vendettas is razor-thin, and crossing it usually leads to disaster.