I have a theory that this is why Lucas and Peyton left Tree Hill. This is a discussion and I see both sides so I’m wondering what others think

Lucas kind of snaps at Haley once for letting Jamie have a relationship with Dan. He immediately apologizes and acknowledges that it is none of his business. But still, I’m sure it really bothered him. I will criticize Lucas’s judgmental personality as much as the next person, but I think he’s justified on this one. Of course, it is NOT his business how they choose to handle Jamie’s relationship with Dan, but he has a right to set boundaries by distancing himself from the people who associate with Dan. I think he didn’t want to run the risk of Dan making his way back into we their lives, and from Lucas’s perspective, allowing Dan to pick up Jamie after school was the first step in that happening. Plus, it probably took a lot for him to listen to Jamie praising his grandpa Dan. Jamie talked about him a lot. Lucas did not believe that Dan should have the opportunity to be redeemed, and he had every right to feel that way. Even if Dan did end up dying when he thought he would, could Lucas have resented them for even giving him a chance?

That being said, I’m not sure Nathan and Haley were in the wrong either. Dan saved Jamie’s life twice, so that is probably enough for him to be redeemed at least enough to hang out with Jamie sometimes. At the end of the day, they are trying to do what is right by their son. He’s just a little boy who wants a relationship with his dying grandpa. Dan was not a danger to Jamie. Murderer not, he loved Jamie genuinely. He didn’t try to manipulative or control him unlike everyone else in his past. Nathan and Haley wouldn’t have allowed this relationship if they weren’t confident that Dan’s intentions were pure. They may not have been able to forgive him for killing Keith, but they trusted him with Jamie.

I don’t believe either of them were wrong. They both had different relationships with Dan. Nathan grew up with him, Lucas did not. Sometimes it seemed like Nathan was conflicted between his loyalty as a brother to Lucas, and his complicated, messy, yet undeniable love for his father. He hated and resented Dan, but loved him at the same time even though he tried to bury it. Lucas on the other hand just hated him.

Also, I know there were “behind the scenes” reason why Chad and Hilarie left. I’m just talking in terms of the fictional characters