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 down

up, Maggie went over the feedback on Sierra. Despite a few subtle hints for improvement,

votes are through the roof, both inside and outside the venue,” the

staggering number! Bagging the top spot in the

bow, Maggie eagerly awaited the host’s rundown

for a Kiss

would have to duke it out with their counterparts from

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

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

casual smile, her tone light. “Ah well, gotta give credit where it’s due. Thanks to my sister.”

Sierra fuming, feeling like she was punching cotton, unable to get her frustration

across.

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, and her

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

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

dawned on Maggie, she couldn’t

wondered if the supposedly random song selections in the competition

Sierra, she

greeted as

business with the song selection for the university competition? Particularly, see if there’s anything shady going

get on it ASAP, Lucas replied,

wasted no time. He accessed the backstage system

something, sis. It looks like most folks‘ songs are randomly picked, but is it yours? Not

finally understanding why she got stuck with one

she asked, her curiosity

Her song was preselected. She’s got ‘Waltz

pause, Maggie spoke softly, “Help

to feel what it’s like without any

for a

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

had previously been on edge, now seemed confident,

waltz.

juggling multiple pieces, Sierra had been honing in on perfecting just one, undoubtedly making her performance shine.

it was time to bring