Beyond the Gates aired its latest episode on May 23, 2025, and things got tense fast. Doug showed up at the hospital but couldn’t find his wife, so he left early to track her down. He ended up at Orphey Gene’s, where Vanessa and a business partner were celebrating a real estate deal.
In Beyond the Gates, Doug left the hospital early because no one had seen or heard from his wife, and he became worried. He decided to go find her himself instead of sitting around. His first stop was Orphey Gene’s, a local spot where people from town often go to hang out.
That’s where he spotted Vanessa. She was there with someone else, and they were celebrating something. Doug didn’t catch them holding hands, but he saw enough to feel uncomfortable.
He realized Vanessa hadn’t remembered the day he was getting his cast removed. She looked caught off guard when he showed up. Doug made a sharp comment about her forgetting and refused her offer to stay. He didn’t make a scene, but it was clear he wasn’t happy. He left without much of a goodbye and walked straight out the door.
What seemed like a random visit to a restaurant turned into a moment that made Doug feel like an outsider in his own relationship. He didn’t yell, but his expression showed his discomfort. The hospital wasn’t the problem. What bothered him was what he discovered after he began asking questions.
Beyond the Gates: What were Vanessa and Doug’s business ties, and how did they affect the moment?

Doug and Vanessa had recently closed a big real estate deal, and it was a win for both of them. That’s what Vanessa and her guest were celebrating at Orphey Gene’s.
They were holding hands at one point, showing they were more than just business partners. Doug didn’t walk in early enough to catch the hand-holding, but he saw the two of them looking way too comfortable. That added another layer to what should’ve been a good day for him.
He had just gotten his cast off. It was supposed to be a fresh start, or at least a better day than usual. Instead, he saw Vanessa acting like she’d forgotten it completely. She didn’t mention it until he brought it up. When he did, she tried to act like she was just busy.
The real estate win should’ve brought them together, but it pushed them further apart. Doug saw her toasting success with someone else while he was left alone to deal with recovery. That moment made the business success feel hollow. What they built together didn’t matter as much if they weren’t showing up for each other in real life.
Beyond the Gates: How did Doug respond when Martin greeted him?

Doug responded with, “Not a damn thing,” when Martin asked, “Dr. McBride, what’s good?” He didn’t even slow down. He gave Martin a dirty look and walked straight out of the restaurant. That happened right as Martin, Samantha, Smitty, and Vernon were walking in.
It was a perfect moment of awkward timing. They crossed paths at the door, and Martin probably didn’t expect such a cold answer. Doug’s tone was sharp, and his face looked angry. He didn’t explain anything or give them a chance to ask questions.
That one sentence said everything they needed to know—something was wrong. His bad mood hit instantly and made the group stop and take notice. They hadn’t even sat down yet, and already felt the tension. Doug’s mood was obvious, and he made no effort to hide it. That kind of blunt response caught everyone off guard.
It was clear he had just seen something that messed up his entire day. He didn’t want to talk about it; he just wanted to leave. That made it easy for the others to figure out that whatever had just happened at Orphey Gene’s wasn’t good.
Beyond the Gates: Did the group realize why Doug was upset?

Yes, the group quickly figured out what had put Doug in such a bad mood. It didn’t take long once they got inside Orphey Gene’s and saw Vanessa sitting comfortably with her business partner. They noticed how cozy the two looked and connected it with Doug’s sour exit. Vanessa didn’t look like someone upset about a fight, rather, she looked like she was enjoying herself, which didn’t sit right with the group.
They realized Doug probably walked in and saw something that made him feel left out or betrayed. It wasn’t hard to put the pieces together. Vanessa didn’t chase after him or look shocked that he had shown up. She just sat there, which made it worse. The group didn’t need to say much. Just one glance around the place told them everything they needed to know.
Doug had walked into something that hurt, and his reaction at the door was the result. They all knew Doug well enough to recognize that he doesn’t say things like that unless he means it. The whole situation put a weird cloud over what should’ve been a normal hangout. Now they had to figure out what to do next.
Watch Beyond the Gates on CBS.