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.

it all boiled down to

wrapped up, Maggie went over the feedback on Sierra. Despite a few subtle hints for improvement, it was mostly a shower of compliments. It was

inside and outside the venue,” the host exclaimed, peering at the latest stats with a

break it down: Maggie racked 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

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

for a Kiss

out with

swiftly exited from the stage, only to bump into

clenched tightly at her side. “Don’t go thinking those votes mean you’re soine talent. You’re just riding

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

she was punching

across.

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 eyes blazed with determination, her voice icy,

shake off thoughts of the two judges up there who seemed friendly with the Pierces. Seeing

the Camerons had teamed up, hell–bent on propelling Sierra to

couldn’t help but dive deeper into

in the competition could be rigged, hiding some sneaky tricks up their

Sierra, she swiftly dialed Lucas’s number.

she greeted as he

fishy business with the song selection

ASAP, Lucas replied,

time. He accessed the backstage

like most folks‘ songs are randomly picked, but is it yours? Not so much. Here’s the proof,” he explained, sending a code snippet to Maggie’s phone as he

understanding why she got stuck with one of the most

she asked, her curiosity

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

Maggie spoke softly, “Help her get rid

piece for her? That way, she gets to feel what it’s like

278 Yearning for

Maggie nodded in agreement. If the competition wasn’t playing fair, they had no reason to be fair to those who biased

seemed confident, probably

waltz.

were juggling multiple pieces, Sierra had been honing in on perfecting

to bring her down a peg or