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

the feedback on Sierra. Despite a few subtle hints for improvement, it was mostly

the

up 187,655 votes from inside and outside the venue! That’s a staggering number! Bagging the top spot in the group and sailing straight through to the next round! Way to

awaited the host’s rundown of the votes for the other two

278 Yearning for a

would have to duke it out with

were out, Maggie swiftly exited from the stage, only to bump into Sierra backstage, who seemed to be lingering there as if on

go thinking those votes

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

she was punching

across.

your moment in the spotlight while you can, Maggie. But mark my words, I’m gonna come out on top! The championship trophy is as good as mine!” Sierra’s

in her mind, she couldn’t shake off thoughts of the two judges up there who seemed friendly with the Pierces. Seeing Sierra’s unwavering

Camerons had teamed up, hell–bent on

she couldn’t help but dive

if the supposedly random song selections in the competition could be rigged, hiding some sneaky tricks

Sierra, she swiftly dialed Lucas’s number.

she greeted as he

business with the song selection for the university competition? Particularly,

on it ASAP, Lucas replied, his tone serious.

on the competition, Lucas wasted no time. He accessed the backstage system and delved into

randomly picked, but is it yours? Not so much. Here’s the proof,” he

finally understanding why she got stuck with one

she asked,

Her song was preselected. She’s got ‘Waltz in G Major,” Lucas

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

for her? That way, she gets to feel

278 Yearning for a

in agreement. If the competition wasn’t playing fair, they had no reason to be

been on edge, now seemed confident, probably

waltz.

juggling multiple pieces, Sierra had been honing in on perfecting just one, undoubtedly making

bring her down a peg