New Arrivals Hit Salem as Sami Brady Remains Absent
September is shaping up to be a monumental month for casting additions in Salem, bringing high-stakes drama, fresh faces, and potential scandalous betrayals. Actress Sydney Malakeh is set to arrive on Wednesday, September 9, portraying a now-grown Sydney DiMera. Just days later, actor Franco Lo Presti will hit the canvas on Monday, September 14, stepping into the role of Dante Vitali. However, their nearly simultaneous debuts are already raising eyebrows—especially since both characters share deep personal ties to Sami Brady, who remains conspicuously absent from the picture.
As Days of Our Lives viewers know, Sydney is Sami’s daughter with EJ DiMera, while Dante is Sami’s newest love interest and fiancé, though fans have yet to see the couple together on screen. Confirmed reports indicate that Sami will not be traveling alongside either Sydney or Dante when they make their respective trips to Salem. The fact that Sami’s fiancé and her daughter are both showing up in her hometown without her has sparked intense curiosity about what is really going on behind the scenes.
The Kiriakis Mansion Purchase and Hidden Timelines
Dante’s arrival appears to be linked to business, as he is very likely the mysterious “Italian billionaire” who is currently in discussions to purchase the iconic Kiriakis mansion. While securing property in Salem provides a convenient reason for his trip, questions remain about whether he has an ulterior motive for making the move right now.
At the same time, Sydney’s return raises its own set of questions. Viewers are left wondering if Sydney is simply visiting Salem or if she is planning to relocate to town permanently to escape something back in Italy. Through soap opera rapid aging syndrome (SORAS), Sydney is clearly an adult now, seemingly over the age of 19. This age progression is evidenced by the fact that she was born well before her niece, Arianna “Ari” Horton, who is already in her second year of college.
Mob Connections or a Shocking Romantic Betrayal?
With Sydney now firmly an adult, fan speculation is running rampant regarding why she might be eager to leave Italy behind—and whether Dante is at the center of her decision. Sami previously tried to downplay Dante’s last name and gloss over his connections to the mob, including his link to his cousin Ava Vitali. It seems possible that Dante could have gotten young Sydney tangled up in something illegal overseas, forcing her to flee.
However, an even more scandalous possibility is circulating among daytime fans. Could Sydney and her mother’s fiancé be hiding a sizzingly secret affair? In the dramatic world of daytime soaps, daughters and mothers frequently cross lines when it comes to romance. A secret relationship between Dante and Sydney would certainly explain his sudden desire to buy the Kiriakis mansion—giving him the perfect excuse to establish a presence in Salem and be there right when Sydney arrives.
If Dante and Sydney are indeed keeping a steamy secret under wraps, Sami could be heading toward one of the most heartbreaking betrayals of her life when she eventually catches up with them.
Do you think Dante and Sydney are keeping their connection strictly professional, or are they hiding a forbidden romance that will blow Salem apart?
