EJ DiMera’s desperation to keep his marriage to Nicole intact has driven him to commit an unforgivable act – trying to pass off Eric Brady’s son Jude as his own child with Nicole. While his motivations are rooted in his love for Nicole, this unethical scheme is doomed to fail spectacularly and will likely destroy multiple lives in the process.
EJ’s obsession with continuing the DiMera bloodline made it seem unfathomable that he would willingly raise another man’s biological child as his own. However, his jealousy over witnessing Nicole kiss Eric has pushed him over the edge into survival mode – he is now fixated solely on saving his marriage at any cost. His plan to force Sloan to give up Jude to them is wildly misguided. As Sloan rightly warns, EJ is merely delaying the inevitable revelation of the truth.
Even if EJ manages to temporarily make his deception a reality, the truth will inevitably come out, as it always does in the world of soap operas. When that happens, he will have shattered any remaining chance of preserving his relationship with Nicole. She will be utterly devastated by his lies and manipulation. Their marriage will be irreparably damaged beyond repair.
The collateral damage, however, will extend far beyond just EJ and Nicole. Eric’s entire world will be flipped upside down when he learns that the child he believed was his son was actually taken from him through EJ’s despicable actions. The betrayal from both EJ and Nicole, the people he trusted, will be unbearable.
In a tragic twist of fate, the very scheme EJ concocts to keep Nicole may actually push her directly into Eric’s arms. United by their shared anguish over EJ’s web of deceit, Eric and Nicole may find solace and companionship by leaving Salem to raise Jude together as co-parents. Perhaps by escaping Salem’s never-ending drama, “Ericole” could finally have a shot at lasting happiness that has eluded them in the past.
While EJ’s intentions may have started from a place of love, his unethical actions are sure to leave a trail of emotional devastation in their wake. His marriage to Nicole is likely doomed, but her relationship with Eric may rise from the ashes of EJ’s disastrous choices. Sometimes in the soap world, the pursuit of a happy ending requires leaving the traumatic events of the past behind completely.
