The air was oppressively muggy, making the already dark and sunless night feel even more ufortable as thick clouds obscured the only sources of light. Aurora stood on the balcony, cradling a cup of hot water, her face veiled by the steam rising from it. Her nightgown fluttered in the wind as she gazed into the distance, her deep-set eyes filled with a hint of mncholy, yet her lips curled into a smile.


    "Mom, it won''t be long before she''s gone from the Montgomery family forever. Don''t worry, soon I''ll have her child kicked out too. The Montgomery family will still be ours, no one can destroy that."


    She nced at the gloomy sky, noticing raindrops beginning to fall. Aurora stretched out her hand to catch them, her thoughts drifting back to a night many years ago.


    It had been just as sultry that evening. A dignified and beautiful woman was skillfully preparing dinner in the kitchen, making Magnus''s favorite dish. The young girl had also returned home early, her face seemingly filled with happiness as she scampered back and forth to the kitchen on her little legs.


    "Mom, look, this is the drawing I made at school. Can I give it to Dad as a birthday present when hees home?" the little girl asked, blinking herrge eyes.


    The woman took the drawing from her hands, examining the content: a bright, sunny day over a green meadow with fluffy white clouds above, and a family of three together. The man in the drawing wore a birthday crown, and the little girl was dressed in her favorite pink tulle dress, each figure smiling sweetly, especially as they all held hands tightly, depicting a perfect family scene. The woman''s eyes sparkled as she looked at the drawing.


    "Yes, it''s beautiful. Dad will definitely be happy," the woman said joyfully, patting the little girl on the head.


    "Okay, I''m going to call Dad and ask when he''ll be back," said the little girl, running out with the drawing.


    The woman heard the childish voice outside, "Dad, hurry back! Mom made a beautiful cake, and I can hardly wait to eat it. Oh no, I was supposed to surprise you with it-I''m so silly. You''ll be back soon? That''s great, Mom''s made a whole table full of dishes for you. Okay, bye Dad."


    Aurora hung up the phone, beaming as she headed to the kitchen, "Dad will be home soon."


    "Alright."


    A few minutester, Magnus entered the house, and Aurora greeted him joyfully, "Dad, you''re finally back."


    "Aurora, have you been a good girl today?" he asked.


    "Of course, I even prepared a birthday present for you. Mom made you a cake;e and see!" Aurora happily led him by the hand to the table.


    She stuffed the drawing into Magnus''s hands. Just as he was about to praise her, his phone rang.


    "Aurora, wait a moment, I need to take this call."


    "Okay, Dad," Aurora said with a smile.


    Magnus saw the caller ID, his expression turning odd as he walked to the window to answer, "What''s happened? Is it serious? I''ll be right there."


    "Dad, who is it?" Aurora tugged at his sleeve.


    "A friend of Dad''s got hurt, I have to go see him right away," Magnus said, clearly anxious as he headed for the door.


    The woman knew who had called; she stood at the kitchen doorway softly saying, "Dinner is ready."


    "You eat first."


    "Today is your birthday, I made this especially for you, and Aurora has been waiting a long time. Can you not go?" The plea in the woman''s eyes and the gentle tug at his shirt spoke volumes.


    "I''ll just go take a look and be right back," Magnus said as he hurriedly put on his shoes and pulled away from the woman''s grasp.


    "Alright, we''ll wait for you toe back for dinner."


    "Okay."


    "It looks like it''s going to rain, remember to take an umbre." The woman fetched an umbre, but Magnus had already disappeared.


    Aurora and the woman stood at the doorway.


    "Mom, where did Dad go? Will hee back?"


    "He will, he promised, and he will definitelye back," the woman affirmed firmly.


    As Magnus opened the car door, he identally dropped a painting on the ground. The car sped away.


    "Oh, my painting!"


    Aurora picked up the painting, but it now bore the tire marks across the smiling faces of three people, and tears rolled down her cheeks.


    "Don''t cry, Aurora. Dad was just in a hurry," the woman knelt down to dry her tears. "Mom, I spent so long on this painting. Dad is so mean!" She ran upstairs, upset.


    The woman stood still, staring nkly at the man''s departing figure while the dinner on the table grew cold.


    Outside, the sky was pitch ck, and rain poured down heavily. The woman reheated the meal over and over again until Aurora came down and saw her still waiting by the table.


    "Mom, is Dad noting back? I just tried to call him, and his phone was off."


    "That can''t be. He promised he would return, maybe his phone just ran out of battery," the woman reassured Aurora.


    Just then, her phone rang, and she opened it happily, only to find a photo of Magnus with two other children and a woman. In the picture, the woman was kissing his cheek


    as he wore a birthday crown and had his eyes closed, making a wish.


    "Mom, did Dad send you a message?" Aurora asked.


    "No." Aurora didn''t notice the woman''s body trembling slightly.


    "Aurora, dear, your dad isn''ting back. Let''s just eat."


    She went to heat the food again, and the tears she had been holding back finally fell. "Mom, why are you crying?" The little girl followed her closely, noticing her trembling shoulders and the tears at the corner of her eyes.


    "I''m not crying, just got something in my eye."


    "You''re lying, Mom. There''s no sand in the house. Is it Dad? It must be him making you upset. My friend told me she saw Dad at the amusement park with another woman and children. Does Dad not want us anymore?"


    The child''s innocent words pierced the woman''s heart like a dagger. She knelt down and hugged her tightly.


    "No, Dad wouldn''t abandon us. How could he, with Aurora being such a good girl?" "Mom, if I''m a good girl, will Dade back?"


    "Yes." Tears streamed down the woman''s neck. Never before had Aurora seen her mother cry, and now she wept like a child in front of her daughter.


    Outside, the thunderstorm was fierce. Auroray in bed unable to sleep. She intended to go to the balcony for some fresh air but saw the woman standing motionless in the yard, like a statue in the rain, looking in the direction Dad had left.


    Remembering that scene, Aurora heaved a deep sigh. Even after all these years, that image lingered persistently in her mind.