Chapter 24 - Jasmine’s Statement
Jasmine spent four hours with investigators.
She came out looking ten years older.
Lauren waited in the parking lot.
Nia was not there.
She learned about the interview later from Detective Reed.
Jasmine admitted photographing Nia’s trust documents.
She admitted retaining login information.
She admitted making comments about disrupting Nia’s housing.
She admitted knowing Malik had accessed Nia’s university portal before graduation.
She denied helping submit the business-credit application knowingly.
Digital records supported parts of that claim.
The signature link Malik had sent Jasmine was labeled “Turner Performance confidentiality package,” not loan paperwork.
She had still entered personal information recklessly.
But investigators increasingly viewed her as both participant in some misconduct and victim of Malik’s deception in others.
Life refused simple categories.
Weeks earlier, Nia would have wanted Jasmine punished for everything.
Now she wanted accuracy.
Only accuracy.
One afternoon Jasmine texted:
Detective Reed said my lawyer may negotiate how my cooperation is treated.
Nia replied:
That’s between you, your lawyer and them.
Jasmine:
I know.
Nia stared at the words.
Then typed:
I hope you tell the truth whether it benefits you or not.
Jasmine:
I did.
That was enough.
Meanwhile Malik’s criminal case moved slowly.
He was released pending proceedings.
Conditions prohibited him from contacting Nia and restricted contact with Jasmine except through approved channels regarding medical or pregnancy matters.
Nia felt safer.
Not healed.
Safer.
Those were different.
She began preparing for Hawthorne.
Twin XL sheets.
Desk lamp.
Storage bins.
Shower shoes.
Her mother bought too much.
Nia returned half.
Ms. Bennett bought more.
“This is how I cope.”
“Retail therapy using my dorm as the patient?”
“Yes.”
They laughed.
In July, the graduation banner finally came down.
Not because Nia wanted it gone.
Because Ms. Bennett was repainting.
Nia folded it carefully.
Her mother noticed.
“You’re keeping it?”
“Yes.”
The blue graduation cap went into the same storage box.
Nia hesitated before closing the lid.
She remembered throwing it at Malik.
You poisoned every memory attached to it.
She no longer believed that.
He had poisoned one night.
Not the achievement.
Not the years before it.
Not what came after.
One evening Lauren visited Ms. Bennett.
They spoke on the porch for over an hour.
Nia did not listen.
Later she asked, “Are you two okay?”
Her mother considered.
“We may be someday.”
“Friends?”
“I don’t know.”
That answer sounded familiar.
Nia nodded.
Ms. Bennett continued.
“Lauren apologized for resentment she never admitted.”
“Did you apologize?”
Her mother raised an eyebrow.
“For what?”
“The comparisons.”
Ms. Bennett sighed.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“You enjoy this growth business when it’s everybody else.”
Nia smiled.
“Very much.”
Two days later Jasmine asked to meet.
They chose the park again.
Her pregnancy was beginning to show slightly.
Nia noticed but said nothing.
Jasmine did.
“You can look.”
“That sounded weird.”
They both laughed awkwardly.
For half a second, they were old friends.
Then reality returned.
Jasmine sat.
“I have something for you.”
She handed Nia Malik’s silver chain.
Nia stared.
It was the same chain from the bathroom sink.
“I thought police had it.”
“They photographed it. It wasn’t evidence.”
“Why do you have it?”
“He left it that night.”
“I know.”
“I kept it because…”
Jasmine stopped.
“Because what?”
“Because part of me thought it meant he chose me.”
Nia looked at her.
“And now?”
“Now it looks like proof of how little choosing means when the person choosing has no integrity.”
Nia turned the chain in her hand.
She had saved for two months to buy it.
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
“Whatever you want.”
Nia looked toward a trash can.
Then stopped.
Throwing objects had begun to feel too much like performance.
She placed the chain in her purse.
Not sentimental.
Not sacred.
Just an object.
Jasmine asked, “Do you hate me?”
Nia considered the question seriously.
“No.”
Jasmine’s eyes filled.
“That almost hurts worse.”
“I know.”
“Do you love me?”
Nia looked at her childhood best friend.
“Yes.”
Jasmine started crying.
Nia continued before hope could form.
“And I don’t trust you.”
Jasmine nodded.
“Both are true.”
“Yes.”
“Will they always be?”
“I don’t know.”
Jasmine wiped her face.
For once she did not ask Nia to decide.
They sat quietly.
Then Jasmine said, “I’m naming the baby after nobody.”
Nia laughed.
“That’s probably wise.”
“I mean no family pressure. No Malik pressure. I’m choosing when I’m ready.”
“Good.”
Jasmine smiled faintly.
“I’m trying to learn that decisions can be mine without making them weapons against somebody else.”
Nia looked at her.
“That sounds expensive.”
“Therapy is very expensive.”
Nia laughed again.
When they stood to leave, Jasmine did not ask for a hug.
Nia appreciated that more than she could explain.
But after three steps, Nia turned.
“Jas.”
Jasmine looked back.
Nia walked toward her.
She hugged her once.
Jasmine froze.
Then cried silently against Nia’s shoulder.
Nia pulled away first.
“This does not mean everything is okay.”
“I know.”
“It means goodbye before college shouldn’t be the bathroom.”
Jasmine nodded.
“Thank you.”
Nia walked away.
Behind her, Jasmine did not follow.
May you like
![92 The Girl They Called Broke Was a Billionaire’s Daughter—But Her Father’s Arrival Exposed a Secret Powerful People Had Buried for Years]](https://cdn.treeiq.biz/site_590/2026/11/clone-0-0915d882-53d7-4d17-b43a-a010ca1a1068.webp)
For the first time in fourteen years, they left in opposite directions.
And neither tried to stop the other.
