You thought the car crash and Lydia’s pregnancy bomb were brutal? Episode 3 of Maxton Hall: The World Between Us Season 2 just detonated the mother of all turning points: James Beaufort standing soaked on a stage, baring his soul in a speech so raw it shattered Ruby’s walls, reignited #Juby flames, and left 12 million viewers worldwide ugly-crying into their pillows. But before you celebrate the fairy-tale comeback, hold on tight, because Aunt Ophelia just read Cordelia’s secret will, and the Beaufort empire is about to implode in ways that make Season 1 look like a playground spat. Is this the moment James finally breaks the family curse, or the night everything he’s fighting for turns to dust? Spoilers ahead – proceed with tissues and rage.

The episode opens with Ruby in full boss-mode, transforming the school courtyard into a glittering wonderland for the Campbell Gala. Fairy lights, champagne fountains, mental-health awareness banners – she’s poured every ounce of heartbreak into making this night perfect. Harriet Herbig-Matten is a vision in emerald silk, all sharp edges and forced smiles, still blocking James’s texts like they’re poison. Meanwhile, James has been secretly attending therapy (yes, actual therapy!) and drafting a speech that could either win Ruby back or humiliate him forever. Damian Hardung’s quiet intensity is chef’s kiss – you can practically feel the storm brewing behind those ocean eyes.

The gala itself is pure Maxton Hall glamour: chandeliers, designer gowns, and enough passive-aggressive shade to freeze champagne. Lydia, glowing in gold despite morning sickness, clings to James’s arm like he’s her lifeline. Ophelia sweeps in wearing mourning black with diamond claws, already dropping cryptic hints about “Cordelia’s final wishes” that make Mortimer’s jaw clench so hard you hear it crack. The tension is delicious – every forced smile hides a dagger.

Then comes the moment. Ruby introduces the keynote speaker – some boring donor – but James hijacks the mic. The music dies. Rain starts pouring (because of course it does). He steps into the spotlight, soaked within seconds, and delivers the speech that will go down in teen-drama history.

“I used to think weakness was the worst thing a Beaufort could show,” he begins, voice cracking. “I pushed away the one person who ever saw the real me because I was terrified her light would expose how broken I am.” Cameras pan to Ruby – tears already streaming. He doesn’t look away from her once. “Ruby Bell, you taught me that strength isn’t hiding pain. It’s letting someone hold it with you.” He talks about his mother’s death, the crash, the drugs, kissing Elaine – every ugly truth laid bare. “I’m done being my father’s son. I’m done punishing myself for existing. And if you’ll let me, I want to spend the rest of my life proving I’m worthy of the girl who never belonged in my world… but somehow became my entire world.”

Cue collective gasp. Ruby’s sobbing. The crowd is sobbing. Even Lin is wiping her eyes and muttering “damn rich boy.” James drops to his knees in the rain – literal knees – and begs, “One chance. That’s all I’m asking.” Ruby doesn’t say yes… but she doesn’t say no either. She walks forward, places her hand on his cheek, whispers something we don’t hear, and the camera pulls back as they stand there, rain washing away months of hurt. It’s the most romantic scene since Darcy’s hand flex – fight me.

You’d think that’s the peak, right? WRONG. The episode saves its deadliest twist for the final ten minutes.

Back at Beaufort Manor, Ophelia gathers the family in the study like a queen about to execute traitors. She produces Cordelia’s real will – the one Mortimer tried to bury. Plot twist: Cordelia left 60% of Beaufort Holdings to James and Lydia jointly, with Ophelia as trustee until they turn 21. Mortimer gets a measly 15% and a scathing letter calling him “the architect of our children’s misery.” Oh, and there’s a clause: if James can prove “emotional stability and independence” within one year – judged by a board including Ophelia – he becomes sole CEO. Mortimer’s face turns purple. He screams about forgery. Ophelia smirks and drops the final nuke: Cordelia recorded a video confession before her stroke, exposing Mortimer’s affairs, embezzlement, and how he drove her to prescription pills for years.

Lydia, pregnant and furious, sides with Ophelia instantly. “You killed her,” she hisses at her father – the first time she’s ever defied him. James stands between them, shell-shocked but resolute. “This ends now,” he declares. “No more secrets. No more control.” Mortimer storms out, vowing to destroy them all in court. The siblings hug Ophelia, who reveals she’s been plotting this coup since Cordelia’s funeral. “Your mother trusted me to burn it all down if I had to,” she says, eyes glittering. “Consider it scorched earth.”

The episode closes on two perfect shots. First: Ruby sneaking into James’s hospital room (he collapsed from exhaustion post-speech). She curls up beside him, whispering, “I’m not ready to forgive… but I’m not ready to lose you either.” Second: James waking up at dawn, seeing Ruby asleep on his chest, and smiling for the first time all season – only for his phone to buzz with a text from an unknown number: “Enjoy your little victory. The war starts now. – M.”

Translation? Mortimer’s about to play dirty. Paternity tests for Lydia’s baby? Leaking James’s therapy records? Buying off the board? The possibilities are endless and terrifying.

Episode 3 is a masterclass in emotional whiplash. James’s speech isn’t just a grand gesture – it’s a public exorcism of generational trauma. Ruby’s slow thaw feels earned, not rushed. The Beaufort family drama escalates from soap opera to Shakespearean tragedy, with Ophelia emerging as the chaotic-good aunt we all need. Performances are next-level: Hardung’s vulnerability, Herbig-Matten’s guarded hope, Weißer’s quiet ferocity, and Andrea Tavella’s ice-queen Ophelia stealing every scene.

As the credits roll over James and Ruby sleeping tangled together – rain still tapping the window – one thing is crystal clear: #Juby is back from the brink. But with Mortimer gearing up for total war and a secret will rewriting the rules, the Beaufort empire is balanced on a razor’s edge. Can love really conquer a legacy built on lies?

Maxton Hall: The World Between Us Season 2 Episodes 1-4 are now streaming on Prime Video, with Episode 5 dropping this Friday. If James’s speech didn’t wreck you and Ophelia’s bombshell didn’t leave you screaming, congratulations – you have no soul. The rest of us? We’re already counting down to the fallout.