Twisted Hate

Three days pass as Jules worries about Max’s order to steal Josh’s painting. She decides to steal the painting without telling Josh because she “was terrified of how Josh would react. For years, he’d thought [she] was a horrible person. […] The last thing [she] wanted was to prove his initial impressions of [her] right when [they] were finally making progress in [their] relationship” (360). She and Josh meet after her shift at LHAC, and she attempts to convince him to get rid of the painting—to no avail. Josh voices his appreciation of Jules’s honesty, and her guilt almost causes her to come clean.

Four days later, Jules breaks into Josh’s house. She steals his painting and other valuable items, sick to her stomach. She delivers the painting to Max’s hotel room. Max reveals he’s likely to return for more favors, as he still has Jules’s sex tape. Jules returns to her apartment for the second phase of her plan.

Josh returns home and discovers he’s been robbed. He feels sick and calls the police, but they can’t do much to help. He calls Jules and to his surprise, almost says “I love you.”

Jules grapples with guilt over the robbery, but attempts to justify her actions by assuring herself of her plan to get rid of her sex tape and return Josh’s belongings. She visits Christian Harper, who helped Bridget and Rhys track and delete leaked photos of them in the past. She makes a deal with Christian, offering a favor (or $2 million fee should she fail her favor) for his help in deleting every copy of her sex tape.

Christian’s plan involves Jules distracting Max long enough to plant a device near his computer. Afterward, he’ll access Max’s files to delete every copy of Jules’s sex tape. Jules visits Max and claims Josh’s painting is a fraud. He doesn’t believe her claim, but entertains further conversation. He takes the opportunity to insult her, fueled by resentment. When Christian notifies Jules that he deleted the sex tapes, she reveals the news to Max, who lashes out. Jules urges him to move on from the past like she has. Upon leaving, she realizes she needs to tell Josh the truth.

Josh has booked tickets for him and Jules to see Legally Blonde: The Musical in New York. Jules comes over and returns his stolen belongings. She explains her past relationship with Max and her robbery of his house. Josh goes numb with anger and hurt, pretends to forgive her, and initiates sex. After Jules climaxes, Josh tells her that he lied about forgiving her and kicks her out. He claims he would have given her his painting if she’d asked and says her best quality is her willingness to have sex with him. After she leaves, he destroys everything that reminds him of her and drinks himself to extreme intoxication.

Jules berates herself and realizes Josh truly hates her now. She regrets being “so blinded by [her] insecurities” and fear of everyone leaving her that she lied to him and destroyed their relationship (407). She returns to her apartment and cries.

Jules distracts herself from her breakup with Josh by studying for the bar exam. As she leaves the testing site, she’s threatened by Max on a stairwell, who wants the painting. When she lies about trashing it, to spare Josh from becoming a target, Max attempts to sexually assault her. She tries to escape, and he pushes her down the stairs.

Josh lashes out at his coworkers following his breakup with Jules. Clara warns him to be professional before handing him his next patient file—Jules. Though he worries about Jules’s injuries—a gash across her forehead and an injured shoulder—he treats her coldly. When she mentions falling down stairs, he presses for more information until she reveals Max pushed her. After leaving the room, Josh succumbs to his rage and texts Alex.

Alex helps Josh kidnap Max, and in a fit of rage, Josh brutally beats Max. Alex stops Josh and cleans up the mess. He convinces Josh to reveal his relationship with Jules and says Jules likely lied “because she was afraid of how [Josh] would react” (433). When he asks how Josh reacted, Josh reflects and is ashamed.