Monday, August 24, 2026

Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings) accused Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) of neglecting Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) because of her continued connection to Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). Dani Dupree insisted her relationship with her ex-husband was solely about their shared children, but Lawson remained unconvinced. Naomi Hamilton-Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) interrupted the argument after hearing them from the hallway.

At the hospital, Dr. Madison Montgomery (Kenjah McNeil) cleared Bill Hamilton to go home. The criminal defense attorney thanked her and said he was happy she was becoming his daughter-in-law. Lawson arrived at Garland Memorial Hospital with her husband’s laptop just as he announced his release. When Ashley Morgan (Jen Jacob) suggested outpatient rehab, the Hamiltons quickly shut it down, and Morgan called Hamilton-Hawthorne with the news.

While sitting at Uptown with Kat Richardson (Colby Nixon), Chelsea Hamilton (RhonniRose Mantilla) began receiving calls from an unknown number and feared Allison Bailey (Brianna Roberts) was behind them. Remembering that Chelsea Hamilton first met Bailey at Uptown, Kat Richardson took her cousin to the hospital to see Dr. Montgomery.

Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis) and Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie) discussed Hamilton-Hawthorne’s upcoming birthday and worried her increased workload at Bill Hamilton’s firm might interfere with their family dinner plans. The married duo also suspected that Bill Hamilton had an ulterior motive for bringing his eldest daughter into the firm.

Dani Dupree later assured her parents that Hamilton-Hawthorne would spend her birthday with them and shared news of Bill Hamilton’s release, leading Vernon and Anita Dupree to worry that he would always be their youngest daughter’s Achilles’ heel.

Still upset over his falling out with Leslie Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant), Marcel Malone (Darryl W. Handy) grew irritated with Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) for getting involved. The Phoenix Street Free Clinic investor arrived at the police station hoping to reconcile with Malone, and the two returned to her hotel. The senior detective refused to give his love another chance until she literally begged for his forgiveness.

Hamilton-Hawthorne called her husband to share the news that her father had been discharged from the hospital and that she planned to visit him. Jacob Hawthorne encouraged his wife to keep the visit short because he had something sexy planned at home for her birthday.

Kat Richardson later arrived at the police station and told Jacob Hawthorne about her fears that Bailey had escaped from the psychiatric facility she was in. When the former undercover cop called to check on what Bailey had been up to, the facility told him they’d confiscate any burner phone found in the room. Jacob Hawthorne reassured Kat Richardson that he’d let her know any other updates, and the two embraced.

Back at home, Lawson resumed her efforts to poison Bill Hamilton, giving her recently released husband a “stiff drink.” Hamilton-Hawthorne and Chelsea Hamilton then arrived. The paralegal watched her husband bond with his girls while she daydreamed about his demise.

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

For the first time in weeks, Dani Dupree and Andre Richardson enjoyed a tension-free breakfast. Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli) later joined them and shared her plans to redecorate the Lakeview Casino.

When the conversation shifted to Heather Armstrong (Ashley Jones), Andre Richardson became uncomfortable and eventually left after making cryptic comments. The photographer’s behavior left Dani Dupree overcome with guilt, fearing her husband had discovered the elevator tryst she had with her ex-husband. Meanwhile, Andre Richardson’s guilt led him to visit Heather Armstrong.

Kat Richardson checked in on Chelsea Hamilton following her scare on the anniversary of her kidnapping. Izaiah Hawthorne (Lami Friebe) joined them, and a conversation about his students at Banneker University shifted to Tyrell Richardson-Smith (Jaden Lucas Miller) and his recent heartbreak.

The Banneker academic advisor became concerned when Chelsea Hamilton mentioned obsession, unaware that she was referring to the possible threat from Bailey rather than Tyrell Richardson-Smith.

Heather Armstrong approached Congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) and Bradley “Smitty” Smith (Mike Manning), pretending to be a fan of the married duo so she could snoop around. Smith was pleased to receive some recognition for his work.

From across Uptown, Randy Parker (Maurice P. Kerry) monitored the Impaler and reported her movements to Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom). Parker followed her outside, but Heather Armstrong confronted him and revealed that she knew he had been watching her.

Meanwhile, the Richardson-Smith siblings had breakfast at Orphey Gene’s, where June Hughes (Jasmine Burke) was working and wanted to treat her children to a meal. Samantha Richardson-Smith (Najah Jackson) invited their mother to join them, and Tyrell Richardson-Smith filled Hughes in on his breakup with Jessica Harris (Camryn Jade).

Izaiah Hawthorne, who was picking up breakfast for his girlfriend, stopped by the table and offered Tyrell Richardson-Smith some encouragement. Before they left, Hughes gave her son a childhood photo. Overcome with emotion, Tyrell Richardson-Smith told his mother that he loved her.

Congressman Richardson and Smith returned to an empty house and took advantage of their alone time before the children came home. When the kids returned, they showed their parents the childhood picture Hughes had given them.

Kat Richardson later told Chelsea Hamilton what Jacob Hawthorne had discovered about Bailey and assured her cousin that she had nothing to worry about. Unbeknownst to them, Bailey sat alone writing letters addressed to her “loving wife,” seemingly just as obsessed with Chelsea Hamilton as ever.

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Still seated with McBride at the country club, Dani Dupree remained rattled by what could be bothering Andre Richardson so deeply. The supermodel believed something that happened in Europe was haunting her husband.

Despite Heather Armstrong’s attempts to flirt and get her “fun Andre” back, Andre Richardson insisted he only wanted answers about why she had been hanging around his wife. Heather Armstrong claimed that she and Dani Dupree had plenty in common.

The Impaler attempted to be intimate with Andre Richardson, but he rejected her. Heather Armstrong warned that she wouldn’t keep taking his rejection well. She later invited Dani Dupree and McBride for drinks, but their rejection sent her into a private rage.

At Lakeview Casino, Mona Wilson (Karan Kendrick) stopped by to see Parker, who was away doing work for Joey Armstrong. While waiting, Wilson joined the mobster for a game of cards and joked about needing a new refrigerator.

Wilson began to wonder if Joey Armstrong was intentionally letting her win to put some good into the world. When Parker returned, Wilson asked him to be the tenor in an upcoming church choir competition. His boss encouraged him to use his voice for something good.

Dr. Nicole Dupree (Daphnée Duplaix) stopped by the Richardson-Smith home with a gift for her grandson. The psychiatrist suggested throwing him a college send-off party, but his dads weren’t sure he would be interested. Congressman Richardson and Smith later reflected on life as their children grew older and entered new stages.

Dr. Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) asked Dr. Carlton Fitzgerald (Robert Christopher Riley) to cover an upcoming conference so he could meet Shanice Johnson’s (Ernestine Johnson) brothers. The plastic surgeons joked about their terrible fashion and past college relationships.

Andre Richardson later visited his uncle and asked how Dr. Richardson had managed to carry on in his marriage after his affair with Leslie Thomas. Their conversation prompted Dr. Richardson to apologize to Nicole Dupree for failing to support her and their marriage, and the exes shared a hug.

Meanwhile, Heather Armstrong returned to Uptown’s bar and met Dr. Fitzgerald for the first time. After exchanging flirtatious banter, Dr. Fitzgerald licked the rim of the Impaler’s glass before the two decided to head to her hotel room.

When the photographer returned home, Dani Dupree pressed him to talk about Europe. He confirmed that his mood stemmed from things he had done there that he wasn’t proud of. Before he could reveal more, Andre Richardson received a cryptic text from Heather Armstrong, warning that his time was running out.

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Hughes visited the law firm looking for Hamilton-Hawthorne but instead received a free consultation from Bill Hamilton regarding a friend facing eviction. After hearing the details, Bill Hamilton gave Hughes his card and promised to discuss the case with his eldest daughter.

Refreshed from his night with Heather Armstrong, Dr. Fitzgerald vaguely told his best friend about being “slayed by a siren.” After Dr. Fitzgerald left for the ER, Dr. Dupree approached her ex-husband and questioned whether he knew why Kat Richardson wanted to speak with her privately.

Meanwhile, during breakfast, Tomas Navarro (Alex Alegria) told Kat Richardson that he hoped Hamilton-Hawthorne would step away from the firm now that Bill Hamilton had returned. After the ChelseaKat business manager left early to meet her mother, Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) joined Navarro and listened to his frustrations about Hamilton-Hawthorne.

The Phoenix Street Free Clinic manager questioned whether Navarro would consider other opportunities. The two tried to avoid discussing Kat Richardson but failed. Navarro then expressed his happiness for Eva Thomas and Izaiah Hawthorne.

At Orphey Gene’s, Izaiah Hawthorne told his eldest brother he had been following advice about supporting Eva Thomas through her surgical recovery. However, the academic advisor remained hesitant about attending the Hawthorne Sunday dinner because he didn’t want to revisit his upbringing.

Kat Richardson met with her mother and briefly discussed the situation involving Navarro and Hamilton-Hawthorne before revealing the ChelseaKat bag designed in her honor. Dr. Dupree wasn’t thrilled about her daughter and Chelsea Hamilton possibly naming the purse “The Nikki.”

When Kat Richardson credited Izaiah Hawthorne with the idea of turning an insult into something positive, Dr. Dupree questioned when the two had become friends. Kat Richardson said they weren’t, but joked that they could be eventually if he and Eva Thomas ever split.

At the office, Bill Hamilton told his eldest daughter about Hughes’ case and persuaded her to work on it with him. When Navarro returned to the firm for his meeting with Bill Hamilton, his boss postponed it to focus on the new case with Hamilton-Hawthorne.

Dr. Richardson later checked in with Nicole Dupree about Kat Richardson, and she assured him that their daughter’s concern involved business rather than her personal life. Dr. Dupree then questioned what her exes had been discussing earlier, suspecting the conversation was about her.

Kat Richardson arrived at Orphey Gene’s and, once again, thanked Jacob Hawthorne for investigating Bailey. After joking around with his brother and cousin-in-law, Jacob Hawthorne left for work. Kat Richardson and Izaiah Hawthorne then brainstormed new names for the upcoming ChelseaKat handbag, and when they began laughing, Eva Thomas arrived and appeared less than pleased by what she saw.

Friday, August 28, 2026

Anita Dupree turned down her Articulette sisters’ invitation to perform at the jazz festival because her voice was still recovering. Vernon Dupree reminded his wife that her treatments would end the following week and suggested the performance could be good practice.

Heather Armstrong surprised Dani Dupree at the country club, who was meeting her daughters for wedding planning. Heather Armstrong mentioned seeing photos from Dani Dupree’s Vegas wedding.

Eva Thomas joined Izaiah Hawthorne and Kat Richardson, where tension and snarky comments quickly surfaced between the half-sisters. The free clinic investor attempted to bait Kat Richardson by mentioning how she had talked to Navarro at the country club.

After the ChelseaKat business manager left, Eva Thomas questioned why Izaiah Hawthorne had been sucking up to her sister and went on a rant, downplaying Chelsea Hamilton and Kat Richardson’s accomplishments. She also said she was looking forward to Kat Richardson leaving soon for Tokyo. Izaiah Hawthorne tried to ease his girlfriend’s frustration by comparing their sibling rivalry to his own.

Later, Parker reported to Joey Armstrong at Lakeview Casino that the Impaler was back. Simultaneously, Chief Elon Hawthorne (Malachi Malik) informed Jacob Hawthorne that Lia Whitmore (Cecelia Specht) was dead, adding another development to the plasma ring investigation.

Lawson pretended to be concerned about Bill Hamilton taking on an additional case with Hamilton-Hawthorne, who assured her that she was taking the lead. The paralegal declined her husband’s lunch invitation by claiming she had a dental appointment. Bill Hamilton later overheard Lawson arranging to meet someone at Uptown and postponed his meeting with Navarro again.

At Uptown, Lawson met Parker and requested more poison, hoping the salad dressing she had already prepared would finish Bill Hamilton off. Unbeknownst to her, the criminal defense attorney watched their meeting through the window.

Kat Richardson and Chelsea Hamilton ran into Smith before meeting Dani Dupree. The investigative reporter revealed that a fashion story he was working on negatively implicated Takahashi, the brand involved in their upcoming fashion show.

Hamilton-Hawthorne stated that there was a morality clause allowing the fashion duo to end the partnership. However, doing so could also jeopardize their other business with Fenmore’s Boutique (Y&R) if the controversy brought them negative attention. Dani Dupree remained supportive as her youngest daughter and niece considered their options.

Smith later visited Jacob Hawthorne at the station and learned that Whitmore was dead. After learning Smith had another conversation with Whitmore the day before she died, the former undercover cop warned that everyone connected to the plasma ring needed to watch their backs.

When Lawson returned to the office, she found Bill Hamilton eating the salad she had prepared for him. He asked to see his wife’s smile, and Lawson played along as if she had returned from her dental appointment, unaware that her husband knew she was lying about her whereabouts.

Viewers can watch “Beyond the Gates” on CBS at 2 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.