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.

all boiled down to

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

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

number! Bagging the

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

278 Yearning for

it out

exited from the stage, only to bump into Sierra backstage, who seemed to be lingering there as

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

light. “Ah well, gotta give credit

reply left Sierra fuming, feeling like she

across.

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

of the two judges up there who seemed friendly with the Pierces. Seeing Sierra’s unwavering confidence, it all clicked

looked like the Pierces and the Camerons had teamed up, hell–bent on propelling Sierra to

dawned on Maggie, she couldn’t help but dive deeper

song selections in the competition could be rigged, hiding

Sierra, she

greeted as he picked up.

fishy business with the song selection for the university competition? Particularly, see if

get on it ASAP, Lucas replied, his tone serious.

keeping tabs on the competition, Lucas wasted no time. He accessed the

randomly picked, but is it yours? Not so much. Here’s the proof,” he explained, sending a code snippet to Maggie’s phone

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

she asked, her

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

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

pick a similar piece for her? That way, she gets to feel what

278 Yearning for a

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

seemed confident, probably thanks to mastering the ice

waltz.

been honing in on perfecting just one, undoubtedly making her performance shine.

time to bring her down a peg or