Legacy of the Jasmine flame

Chapter Twelve:The Game & The Trap

The day had come — the University Power Slam had finally begun.

The court was blazing with lights, cheers, and electrifying energy. Jasmine Junior, clad in his sharp jersey, stood in the middle of the court. His name echoed from the crowd like a thunderous chant:

"JJ! JJ! JJ!"

This wasn't just a match.

This was destiny bouncing in rhythm with the basketball.

From the first whistle, JJ was everywhere. He dribbled past defenders like they were ghosts, made clean passes like he wrote the rulebook, and every time he jumped for a dunk — it was like he was rising above every lie, every loss, and every tear his mother cried in prison.

He wasn't just playing basketball.

He was playing for redemption.

Meanwhile, miles away from the roaring stadium, in a quiet room at the prison, Lawyer Prince sat again with Mrs. Jasmine, Inspector Bubble, and Drake.

He cleared his throat and leaned forward seriously.

"As I said last time," he began, "the reason I suspect Julian is not just because she visited your home that night. It's because she was the last visitor, and because she's the only one who had access at the exact moment the cameras went off."

Mrs. Jasmine nodded slowly. "But even if that's true… how do we prove it? The cameras were off. We don't have any footage."

"That's where smartness beats evidence," Lawyer Prince said with a confident smile.

He turned to Inspector Bubble.

"Inspector, you will approach Julian. You will tell her that you saw her sneaking into the house around the time of the poisoning. You won't say how — just that you know. And then offer her a bribe — a fake one. Tell her if she confesses, or explains what she did, you'll keep quiet and give her money."

Mrs. Jasmine gasped. "That's risky. What if she doesn't fall for it?"

"She will," Drake said softly. "Because Julian is greedy. If it's not about love, it's about money. And this plan uses both."

Lawyer Prince nodded. "Exactly. That's where Drake comes in. You will go to her… and tell her you want to propose to her."

Drake raised an eyebrow. "Propose?!"

"Yes," Lawyer Prince smiled slyly. "Tell her you want her. Make it look real. Then once she begins to trust you, talk to her. Sweet talk her. Let her start opening up. So, while Inspector Bubble is threatening her with silence for a price, you'll be there acting like her dream man. One of the two traps will catch the truth."

Everyone was quiet.

Mrs. Jasmine looked up, a fire in her eyes. "If this works… if this works, I'll finally be free."

Lawyer Prince smiled. "It will work. But you must all play your roles like actors on stage. Julian is clever, but desperation always makes even smart people foolish."

Back at the court, Jasmine Junior made a final dunk that shook the arena.

His team won the first round by a landslide. The coaches stood, applauding. Scouts scribbled his name.

He had done it.

As he stood with his hands raised, sweat dripping down his face, he whispered,

"This is for you, Mom… The world will know the truth soon."