The best, and I hesitate to use that word, exit story line for Nicole: The truth about Jude is revealed. Eric divorces Sloan in a nanosecond. Sloan, Melinda and that awful doctor go to prison. Nicole and Eric leave Salem with Jude. Happy ending.
The thought of no Nicole on this show saddens me deeply, but if it is a done deed, at least give the viewers a decent story line.
Yes, EJ will be heartbroken, but he will rebound, especially when he knows he is not Jude's bio dad.