STIGMA

"Buzz." The final bell rang at H University. Leona Ling was already prepared to leave the classroom. She had her schoolbag tidied up way in advance as there was very little time left in her hands to reach the fast-food restaurant where she worked part-time. Just as she was about to walk out, she was stopped by a tall and handsome boy.

Leona Ling, all of 19 years was a sophomore at H University in C City. She had a petite frame and long black hair that added to her subtle grace. She was wearing white jeans and a T-shirt that she had just picked up from a street stall. Her moist almond-shaped eyes looked like a deep submerged pool on her oval face. Her face had a mark of innocence mixed with a spark of intelligence that attracted people towards her.

The Ling family was quite rich and well known in C City. Her father, Jonson Ling, was running a company that employed dozens of people. Ideally, Leona Ling should have lived a privileged life befitting the second daughter of the wealthy businessman family like the Ling family. However, she used to pull off all her living expenses including her tuition fee through her part-time jobs. The fact was that Leona's mother Bess Shen was not Jonson Ling's real wife but his mistress. As a result, Leona was never given due respect as a real daughter of the Ling family.

Jonson Ling married Cynthia Mu, the only child of the owner of the Mu Company. Before they got married, Jonson was just an ordinary worker in the company. However, he successfully took over the Mu Company after they got married. Cynthia lived a very pampered and privileged life supported by her own family even after she married Jonson. She was more like a queen at home. She had only one daughter called Jasmine Ling after her marriage with Jonson. After that, Cynthia couldn't have another child.

Jonson had no status in the Mu family. Over and above, he had to put up with his dominating wife. He always wanted to have a son which he could not accomplish from his marriage with Cynthia. As a result, Jonson remained depressed and life seemed to be tough. Then, there came a time, when he became close to his secretary, Bess. In a short time, Bess became pregnant. Jonson rested a lot of hope on Bess to have a baby boy. But much to his disappointment, even Bess gave birth to a girl child. And that was none other than Leona.

Jonson lost all his hope and became heartbroken. This affected him in such a way that it led him to be at the verge of bankruptcy because of his inappropriate business decision. Meanwhile, Leona's mother, Bess was also aware that she couldn't become a real member of the Ling family and fell in love with another man. In Jonson's eyes, Leona just brought him bad luck. Bess went absconding leaving the newborn Leona at the disposal of her father. Initially, Jonson had planned to leave Leona in the orphanage. However, a rumor had been spread in C City about his illegitimate daughter. Out of fear of losing his reputation, he had no choice but to take Leona back to his own home and raise her.

Leona was supported by the Ling family for most of her growing years until she got into the university. Now that she had entered the university, she had to fund her education on her own. For Jonson's wife, Cynthia, Leona was a thorn in the flesh. More so because Leona resembled her mother Bess. Every time Leona came in front of Cynthia, she would be reminded of her husband's adultery. As a result, her hatred for Leona would be aggravated. Leona was made to stay in a servant's room of the Ling family and even ate her food with the servants.

Cynthia's daughter, Jasmine was three years elder to Leona.