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Johnny and Chanel are over the moon as they get ready to finalize Trey’s adoption, all while Chanel’s pregnant! The blessings keep raining down. (Until they don’t. This is Salem.)

How Close Is Lexie?

EJ’s lurking in the Pub when Paulina shows up with a cake to celebrate Trey’s adoption. He listens in on her and Roman waxing on about how amazing Trey is, then butts in. Paulina asks Roman to put her cake in the fridge so she can see how things are going with Lexie.

“Everything is moving along quite nicely,” EJ grins. “Thanks for asking!” They shut up when Roman gets back and EJ shows himself out, asking them to give their best to the kids.

Will Belle Lose Her Job?

The judge gives her ruling (which she went over at the end of yesterday’s episode!), sending Rachel back to Bayview. Kristen does her darndest to get thrown into prison again, flying into a rage in front of the judge, then threatening Marlena.

Melinda convinces Kristen to go before the judge sees the scene, and Brady’s not much more forgiving and walks out, too. Alone, Belle insists that this is Kristen’s fault. But then the judge comes back and demands to know why Belle didn’t recuse herself from the case.

Belle did just about everything wrong she could have. In fact, Judge Dabny may even charge her with prosecutorial misconduct! That’s about when Johnny and Chanel show up all happy and bubbly and find Belle looking like she’s about to throw up. She hurriedly assures them this has nothing to do with them and this is all going to go smoothly! (Again. This is Salem.)

Can Sophia Stop the Adoption?

Judge Dabny is far more cheerful as she finalizes the utterly adorable Trey’s adoption. (But how could anyone not be with that kid?) And then Melinda bursts in with Sophia, and Trey’s reaction is even cuter!

Belle tries protesting, but the judge is already ticked at her, so she just gets shot down and lets Sophia throw in her two cents. Before Sophia can say much, EJ shows up, and Johnny and Chanel agree to switch Belle out for EJ.

Judge Dabny is sympathetic as Sophia pretends she’s not a sociopath and tearfully shares everything that happened and says Johnny isn’t fit to be a parent. But her sociopathy isn’t a match for EJ at his most evil.

He tears her to shreds with a smile, lays out her months of deceit and hands over all the paperwork to back up what she’s done. Then he questions her, points out that neither of Trey’s bio parents have a legal say anymore and snarls, “The real purpose of you here is to finish the hit job against my clients!” He snarls.

Will Kristen Run?

Kristen picks up in the square, accusing Marlena of not truly loving Rachel. So Marlena turns the tables and accuses Kristen of emotional abuse while Brady just stands by and watches! Daggers fly as Kristen tells Marlena she’s cut off from Rachel and Marlena storms off. Brady finally tells Kristen to knock it off because they have to tell Rachel the news now.

When they get home, they tussle over whether they’re throwing Marlena under the bus with Rachel. Brady tells Kristen about Holly’s pills — though he somehow caught on that this was Sophia’s manipulation! (Did we miss when he figured that out?)

Kristen won’t send her back to Sophia and Bayview, though. She and Rachel are leaving Salem. Or trying to. Brady warns that if she even looks at Rachel’s passport, he’s throwing Kristen back in Statesville. Out of options, Kristen just breaks down sobbing while Brady holds her.

In the Show’s Final Moments

Kristen and Brady sit Rachel down on the couch and break the news as best they can — without telling her Marlena said anything. (So far.) Rachel starts crying and begging Kristen to not send her back. It’s heart-wrenching as she throws herself in Kristen’s arms.

Melinda denies the chance to redirect Sophia and the judge rules happily for Johnny and Chanel. Sophia melts down, unable to handle it as Melinda rushes her out and Belle reluctantly congratulates EJ. Even Chanel thanks her father-in-law, but she looks a little green around the gills as EJ welcomes Trey “to the family.”