DAYS SPOILERS: IS PHILIP OR SARAH MORE TO BLAME FOR THE FAKE LETTER DISASTER?

TL;DR: The fake letter scandal has fans debating who’s most at fault – Philip Kiriakis who forged Victor’s will, Sarah Horton who orchestrated the cover-up, or Stephanie Johnson who got dragged into their mess.

Hold onto your seats, Salem fans, because the blame game is ON! The fake letter scandal that’s torn the Kiriakis family apart has everyone taking sides. Was it Philip‘s forgery that started this disaster? Or did Sarah‘s lies make everything infinitely worse?

Let’s break down this EXPLOSIVE mess…

Who Started This Whole Disaster?

Philip Kiriakis started it all by forging his dead father’s letter with Vivian Alamain‘s help. Period. End of story.

The guy was SO desperate to steal Xander‘s inheritance that he literally committed fraud! We’re talking about a calculated, premeditated crime here – not some heat-of-the-moment mistake. Philip wanted control of Titan Industries so badly that he was willing to rob his own brother (well, turns out Xander is actually Victor‘s son too, making this even MORE twisted!).

And let’s not forget Vivian‘s role in all this. That woman has been scheming since the dawn of time, and she gave Philip exactly the push he needed to cross that criminal line. Without their forgery, NONE of this drama would’ve happened. No secret for Sarah to keep. No lies for Stephanie to get dragged into. No betrayal for Xander to discover.

Did Sarah Make Everything Worse?

YES. A thousand times yes! Sarah Horton took Philip‘s corporate crime and turned it into a devastating personal betrayal.

Here’s what kills me – Sarah has ALWAYS been on her high horse about honesty with Xander. She’s judged him for his lies and deceptions for YEARS. Then what does she do when she finds out about the forgery? She orchestrates a massive cover-up! The hypocrisy is STAGGERING.

But wait, it gets worse…

Sarah didn’t just keep the secret. She actively recruited Stephanie into her web of lies. She BEGGED her to stay quiet. And when Xander started getting suspicious about all their secret meetings? Sarah asked Stephanie to pretend she was having an AFFAIR with Philip!

Can we talk about how messed up that is? Sarah was so terrified of Xander‘s reaction that she was willing to destroy Stephanie‘s reputation and relationship with Alex just to keep her secret. That’s not protection – that’s manipulation!

Why Did Sarah Really Lie?

Sarah was genuinely terrified that Xander would lose control and hurt Philip – and honestly? She wasn’t wrong!

Look, I get it. Xander‘s history is DARK. We’re talking diamond smuggling, attempted murder, locking people in furnaces… The guy has a terrifying resume. Sarah knew that if Xander found out about the forgery, he’d go nuclear. And guess what happened when the truth came out? He beat Philip unconscious!

But here’s the thing – Sarah‘s fear created a self-fulfilling prophecy. By lying to protect Xander from his own violent impulses, she proved she STILL doesn’t trust the man she married. After all his efforts to reform, to become a legitimate businessman and family man for her and baby Victoria, she still saw him as a ticking time bomb.

That’s what really destroyed their marriage. Not just the lie itself, but what it represented.

What About Stephanie’s Role?

Stephanie Johnson was a victim who got dragged into this mess against her will – but she’s also the hero who finally exposed the truth.

Poor Stephanie! The daughter of supercouple Steve and Kayla just wanted to live her life, but Philip and Sarah pulled her into their conspiracy. First, they begged her to keep quiet about the letter. Then – and this is where it gets INSANE – they wanted her to pretend she was sleeping with Philip to explain why they kept meeting in secret!

Can you imagine? Stephanie was supposed to risk her relationship with Alex, damage her own reputation, all to protect Sarah‘s lies? No wonder she cracked! When faced with losing Alex over a fake affair, Stephanie made the only sane choice – she told him the truth about the forged letter.

Some fans are calling her a snitch, but I say she’s the only one in this whole mess who did the right thing!

Who’s Really Most to Blame?

After analyzing every angle, Philip and Sarah share equal blame – but for completely different sins.

Philip committed the original crime. Without his forgery, none of this would’ve happened. He’s a criminal, plain and simple. He stole from his own brother out of desperate daddy issues and corporate ambition. That’s inexcusable.

But Sarah? She took that crime and weaponized it into something far more personal and devastating. Her cover-up didn’t just hide Philip‘s fraud – it destroyed her marriage, violated Xander‘s trust, and negated his entire journey toward redemption. In some ways, her betrayal cut deeper than Philip‘s theft ever could.

Stephanie barely registers on the blame scale. She was coerced, manipulated, and ultimately chose to save herself rather than enable their toxic secrets. Good for her!

What’s Next for These Relationships?

Don’t be surprised if Xander and Philip end up working together against their real enemies!

Here’s what’s wild – spoilers indicate these brothers are already finding common ground. Tony DiMera apparently has a business proposal for them, which means they’ll need to unite to protect the family empire. Could this shared threat bring them together?

As for Sarah and Xander, their relationship is “severely fractured” but far from over. During Victoria‘s birthday celebration, Sarah reportedly starts seeing Xander “in a new light.” Given this show’s history, these two will probably become the next Victor and Maggie – a legacy supercouple who survived the ultimate test.

This fake letter storyline isn’t an ending – it’s a crucible. It’s burning away the lies and mistrust to forge something stronger. At least, that’s what the writers BETTER be planning!

Quick Answers for DAYS Fans

Q: Did Philip really forge Victor’s letter? A: Yes, Philip and Vivian deliberately forged the document to steal Xander‘s inheritance.

Q: Why didn’t Sarah tell Xander the truth? A: Sarah was terrified Xander would violently attack Philip based on his violent history.

Q: Is Stephanie really having an affair with Philip? A: No! That was a cover story Sarah asked her to tell to hide the forgery secret.

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