Ah, regrets—we all have them, especially when it comes to love. On Days of Our Lives, Stephanie (Shelley Hennig) is facing a particularly dark regret, one that revolves around her tumultuous past with Jeremy Horton. Lately, as her semi-autobiographical romance novel is on the cusp of publication, Stephanie has been consumed with worry that an ex she desperately wants to forget might reappear. The July 31st episode provided some chilling clues, strongly suggesting that this ex is none other than the troubled Jeremy.

The confirmation seems to be coming from multiple storylines converging at once. First, we learn that a passage Stephanie is frantically trying to remove from her book was inspired by a traumatic incident with a former lover. This alone might not be definitive, but in the same episode, Steve (Stephen Nichols) stumbles upon some items in Alex’s (Robert Scott Wilson) apartment that uncomfortably remind him of Jeremy. The simultaneous focus on this forgotten figure’s past actions and his possible connection to a current character makes it increasingly difficult to ignore the possibility of his return.

Jeremy’s history is one of the more tragic and complicated in the Horton family tree. He was born offscreen in 1987 after his mother, Robin Jacobs, left Salem without telling his father, Mike Horton, that she was pregnant. When she returned a year later with their son, Mike had already moved on, so she left town again. Jeremy didn’t appear in Salem until 2007, played by Trevor Donovan, as an adult already in a relationship with Stephanie (then played by Shelley Hennig). They met while she was a race car driver in Daytona. Stephanie, trusting and in love, introduced him to her friends and even asked them to invest in his private airline service, “Touch the Sky Airlines.”

However, this venture was a front for a sinister scheme. It was never meant to ferry the rich to Las Vegas but was instead a cover for the DiMeras to smuggle illegal merchandise. This was just the tip of the iceberg of Jeremy’s dark side. He was revealed to have serious anger issues, was abusive towards Stephanie, and had a criminal record for everything from fraud to shoplifting. His love for Stephanie was intertwined with his criminal activities and deep-seated issues.

Eventually, the smuggling operation was exposed. While the powerful DiMeras escaped with a mere slap on the wrist, Jeremy was forced to go on the run to evade the law. At the time, he seemed to genuinely want to turn his life around and make amends, but he hasn’t been seen since.

Jeremy has rarely been mentioned, with the most recent reference occurring at Jada’s (Elia Cantu) bachelorette party, where Stephanie candidly admitted that he was one of her biggest regrets. Now, with the new clues and the revelation that Mike Horton himself will be returning to Salem soon, the stage is perfectly set for Jeremy’s dramatic comeback.

The question is, what kind of person will Jeremy be if he returns? He could, like many others in the ever-forgiving town of Salem, have genuinely changed his life. He could return with news that he’s a new man, ready to face his past demons. This would offer a chance for a truly redemptive storyline, though it’s clear Stephanie is still traumatized by their relationship and a romantic reunion would be a mistake.

On the other hand, a more explosive and dramatic possibility exists. What if Jeremy sees Stephanie’s book and becomes enraged that his dark past is being exposed? He could return not as a changed man, but as an outright villain, seeking revenge on the woman who dared to write about their history. The prospect of him causing chaos in Salem once again, possibly targeting Stephanie, is a thrilling and terrifying thought. With Trevor Donovan having recently appeared on the CW’s 90210 requel alongside AnnaLynne McCord (Cat), there is a chance for a fun crossover dynamic should he return.

Fans are left to wonder: would bringing Jeremy back be a fresh source of drama and intrigue, or should the writers simply let this troubled past stay buried? The return of Mike Horton and the clues surrounding Stephanie’s book suggest that a ghost from her past is about to knock on her door, and it’s bound to cause some serious trouble.