Why did Chad and Stephanie break up on Days of Our Lives? Explained

Chad DiMera, played by Billy Flynn on Days of Our Lives, ended his relationship with Stephanie Johnson (played by Abigail Klein) because of his lingering feelings for his late wife, Abigail. Although Chad found comfort in Stephanie, his unresolved grief prevented him from fully committing to the relationship. Over time, Stephanie felt overshadowed by Chad's emotional turmoil, leading to tension and their eventual split.

Besides, external forces played a significant role in their breakup. Work-related stress and familial responsibilities were pulling them in different directions altogether. As the pressure mounted to balance their personal lives with professional duties, a constant atmosphere of strain would face both Chad and Stephanie, which could not avoid this decision of separation altogether.

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How did Chad and Stephanie's relationship begin on Days of Our Lives?

Chad DiMera and Stephanie Johnson’s relationship began long before they became a couple on Days of Our Lives. As old friends, the two shared a history dating back to Stephanie's earlier years in Salem. After she left town, they lost contact for some time, but fate had other plans.

When Stephanie returned to Salem and started her PR firm, SJPR, she reconnected with Chad after offering him a job following his help on a project. She was hired by Paulina Price to manage her gubernatorial campaign, and Chad, grieving his wife Abigail's murder, accepted the job as a fresh start, not wanting to return to DiMera Enterprises. Their shared grief—Chad over Abigail and Stephanie over her ailing mother—brought them closer as they worked together.

One night, while working late and drinking, Chad and Stephanie shared a kiss. This unexpected moment of intimacy brought their friendship to a new level, though Chad later hesitated to take things further, feeling conflicted about moving on from Abigail. Despite the emotional connection they were forming, Chad wasn’t quite ready to fully embrace a new relationship.

The professional challenges they faced together also brought them closer. When Sloan Peterson began blackmailing Paulina with information about her daughter Chanel Dupree, Chad and Stephanie devised a plan to steal the incriminating file from Sloan. Their teamwork and growing personal connection made their bond even stronger, though Chad’s emotional baggage remained a barrier.

At the time, Stephanie chose to pursue a relationship with Alex Kiriakis. But her deepening friendship with Chad, which extended to spending time with his children, caused tension with Alex. The complexities of their evolving relationship would eventually lead to major shifts in both their personal lives.

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How did Chad and Stephanie end their relationship on Days of Our Lives?

But finally, after Stephanie Johnson and Chad DiMera had broken up on Days of Our Lives with Alex Kiriakis, they both confessed their love to each other. They extended their relationship one step further by spending their first night together, which initiated their romantic affair.

By mid-2023 in Days of Our Lives, Stephanie had moved in with Chad and his two children, Thomas and Charlotte, creating what was seemingly a picture-perfect family unit. To Chad, this step marked a desire to rebuild his life after Abigail's death, while to Stephanie, it was a fresh start not only in her personal life but also in her professional life. But as time moved on in their relationship, it gradually dawned on her that Chad was still carrying some heavy baggage with him from the past.

Chad deeply loved Stephanie, but his unresolved grief over Abigail's death prevented him from fully committing. Even after moving in together and raising his kids with her, his emotional struggles held him back. External issues, like his ongoing turmoil and unfinished business with Alex Kiriakis, worsened their relationship. Despite trying to move on, Chad resisted marriage and couldn't fully let go of Abigail, creating a rift between him and Stephanie.

By December 2023, it finally dawned on Chad even though it was painful to realize that he wasn't ready to move into another relationship. He knew his heart partly still belonged to Abigail, and he wasn't emotionally prepared to make a move with Stephanie.

Indeed, the two had to make that very difficult decision to end their romantic involvement but they remained friends. Even after the breakup, Chad and Stephanie continued to have mutual respect and affection for each other.

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Interested viewers can catch episodes of Days of Our Lives on weekdays on Peacock.