Beyond The Gates | Did Hayley Pull A ‘Candace Young’ On The Dupree Family?

If you’ve watched my Episode 3 review, you’ll notice that I made a Haves and Have Nots comparison, drawing parallels between Bill and Jim Cryer, with Haley playing the role of Candice Young. Like Candice, Haley is a young woman who has reignited passion in a man stuck in a mundane, loveless marriage—at least on his end. Bill, feeling trapped, is willing to leave everything behind for this new woman who has completely upended his life.

It wasn’t until this morning that something truly hit me. As I was taking out the trash, I suddenly realized the weight of Haley’s actions. Not only did she betray her so-called first real friend, but she also destroyed her parents’ marriage and is now about to marry her best friend’s father. That means Naomi’s former bestie is about to become her stepmother. How did I not see that before?

What’s even wilder is the way Haley and Bill talk about it. Haley laments, “I just lost my good friend,” and Bill, completely unfazed, says, “Oh, she’ll come around.” How do you come back from this? Episode 2 was already intense, with one of my favorite scenes being Nicole serving Haley a hard dose of reality. She called Haley out for betraying Naomi and her mother, who had welcomed her into their family with open arms. Haley didn’t just ruin their marriage—she’s flaunting her new relationship, moving back into the same neighborhood, and acting as if everything is supposed to be fine.

It’s baffling how Haley doesn’t grasp the gravity of her actions. She claims she’s not naive, yet she expects these people to accept her without consequences. Naomi’s mother, Danny, was beloved in their community. Now, thanks to Haley, her life has fallen apart, and yet Haley seems surprised by the hostility.

I need to see a confrontation between Naomi and Haley at some point this season. It’s inevitable, and I hope it happens soon.

But let’s talk about the bigger theory here. Did Haley intentionally pull a Candice Young move? Was this all part of a calculated plan?

Naomi left Fairmount Crest five years ago to build her own legacy outside of the DePri name. She wanted to practice law her own way, distancing herself from her father’s manipulative, rule-bending tactics. It was clear from the start that Bill is the kind of guy who stores up favors, using them when needed. Naomi saw through it and didn’t want to follow in his footsteps. That’s why she chose her own path and met her husband.

But what if Haley played the long game? What if she befriended Naomi not by chance, but by design? She didn’t come from money, she had no real family, and she suddenly found herself close to someone from an elite world. Imagine her thinking, “You gave up wealth and privilege to struggle? Why?” Maybe she saw an opportunity. Maybe she studied law not just for a career, but to infiltrate Naomi’s circle. Maybe once she got introduced to the DePri family, she saw what life behind the gates was like and thought, Why not me?

Danny even vouched for Haley to get a job at Bill’s firm. What if that was all part of Haley’s plan? Maybe she stayed late under the guise of “catching up on work” just to get closer to Bill. Naomi, unknowingly, might have given her friend the perfect insight into her parents’ troubled marriage. Haley could have used that knowledge to position herself just right—appealing to Bill at a time when he was feeling the most discontent.

Bill, of course, is no innocent party here. He’s a serial cheater, and we all know it. But Haley played her cards too well for this to be a coincidence. The affair, the divorce, the sudden return to the neighborhood—it all seems too calculated.

Danny’s pain in Episode 3 was heartbreaking. She looked into the eyes of the man she built a life with for over 30 years and realized none of it mattered to him anymore. Bill had moved on, and he expected her to do the same. He dismissed their history, their struggles, and their love as if they were nothing. Meanwhile, Haley stood there, oblivious to the damage she caused—or maybe she just didn’t care.

And that brings me back to my Haves and Have Nots comparison. Candice Young meticulously researched the Cryer family, befriended Amanda to get close to Jim, and used her position to blackmail him. Haley might have done the same, using Naomi as a stepping stone into Bill’s world. But here’s the kicker: Bill thinks he’s the one in control, just like Jim Cryer did.

The irony? Haley is going to find out the hard way that Bill isn’t some prize. Just like Danny warned, she isn’t the first, and she won’t be the last. Once the thrill fades, Bill will go back to his old ways—cheating, lying, and treating her just like he treated Danny.

“You lose them how you get them.”

Haley may think she won, but the reality check is coming. And I, for one, can’t wait to see it all unfold.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Don’t forget to like and subscribe, and I’ll catch you in the next video.