Raquel Dion, Mateo's unknown first wife, showed up in Pine Valley to unite Mateo with his 7-year-old son, Max, who Mateo didn't know existed. Hayley, surprised by the presence of wife number one learned that because Mateo's marriage to Raquel had never been properly annulled, her marriage to Mateo was invalid. Mateo assured Raquel that their teenage fling was over and that he had no feelings for her, but Raquel refused to sign off on the marriage. Hayley's felt badly because Max saw her as the woman that was keeping his mother and father from getting back together. More importantly, Hayley hated that Raquel had given Mateo the one thing she couldn't – a child. Hayley's relationship with Mateo was furthered strained when she championed Ryan Lavery in his quest to prove his innocence of a rape charge. She found herself jailed for aiding and abetting Ryan – an action that puts Mateo's custody of Max in jeopardy. When the real rapist is identified, Ryan is released from prison and becomes Hayley's best friend – to Mateo's annoyance. Although he and Ryan would eventually become friends themselves.