Let’s start all over again,shall we?

Chapter 278 Yearning for a Kiss

Once Maggie wrapped up her performance, her eyes were teary.

Not because of anything else but because tragedies tend to hit close to home.

She couldn’t shake off memories of her past life with Nathael and the lingering what–ifs of this one.

Mixing up feelings of relictance, excitement, and a dash of sweetness, it all boiled down to a sad soup.

Grace was dabbing her eyes back in the dressing room, and even Danielle seemed a bit misty–eyed.

“Maggie, you nailed it out there. I’m so moved, I could cry, Grace chimed in.

Danielle nodded along, adding, “Seriously, you aced it. You’re gonna get top marks for sure.”

“Thanks, Ms. Joyton, thanks, Grace. I’ll catch you guys in the audience seats later, Maggie murmured sofily.

“Sure thing. Once they announce the scores, you can bounce if you’ve got stuff to do,” Grace replied.

Sierra stayed quiet, her gaze fixed on Nathael’s Twitter feed, lost in her world.

Before they realised it, Maggie was next, ready to face the judges‘ feedback.

With a grin, the host piped up, “Any guesses on your score, Maggie?”

Maggie said, “Well, what do you think, Mr. Surrez?”

“If it were up to me, I’d toss you an eleven, with an extra point just to boost your ego,” the host quipped

back.

The room erupted in laughter, and Maggie couldn’t help but smile too.

The camera shifted to the judges below the stage, capturing their mixed reactions. Some showered her praise, while a couple seemed to find faults in every nook and cranny.

Maggie glanced at the two critics, recalling their lukewarm feedback from the first round, It felt like one of them had a bone to pick with the Pierces, and the other might’ve had some ties she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

boiled

Despite a few subtle hints for improvement, it was mostly a shower of compliments. It was clear

the venue,” the host exclaimed,

and outside the venue! That’s a staggering number! Bagging the top spot in the group and sailing straight

bow, Maggie eagerly awaited the host’s rundown of the

Yearning for a Kiss

would have to duke it out with their counterparts from different groups.

Maggie swiftly exited from the stage, only to bump into Sierra backstage, who seemed to

glare, her hand clenched tightly at her side. “Don’t go

“Ah well, gotta give credit where it’s due. Thanks to my

reply left Sierra fuming, feeling like she was punching cotton, unable to

across.

mark my words, I’m gonna come out on top! The championship trophy is as good

stayed quiet, but in her mind, she couldn’t shake off thoughts of the two judges up there who seemed friendly

up, hell–bent on propelling Sierra to the championship spot, hence her

this dawned on Maggie, she couldn’t

in the competition could be rigged, hiding

Maggie strode past Sierra, she swiftly dialed Lucas’s number.

greeted as

and look into any fishy business with the song selection for the university competition?

get on it ASAP, Lucas replied,

competition, Lucas wasted no time. He accessed the

onto something, sis. It looks like most folks‘ songs are randomly picked, but is it yours? Not so much. Here’s the proof,” he explained, sending

spine, finally understanding why she got stuck with one of the most challenging

asked, her

Her song was preselected. She’s got

a brief pause, Maggie spoke softly, “Help her get rid

piece for her? That way, she gets to feel what it’s like without any favouritism, Lucas proposed, a frown greasing

278 Yearning for

of thought. Maggie nodded in agreement. If the competition wasn’t playing fair, they had no reason to

edge, now seemed confident, probably thanks to

waltz.

Sierra had been honing in on

to bring her down a