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

few subtle hints for improvement, it was mostly a

inside and outside the venue,” the host

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

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

Yearning for

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

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

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.”

fuming, feeling like she was punching cotton, unable to

across.

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 demeanour oozing

couldn’t shake off thoughts of the two judges up there

Camerons had teamed up, hell–bent on propelling

this dawned on Maggie, she couldn’t help but

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

past Sierra, she swiftly dialed Lucas’s

she greeted as

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

on it ASAP, Lucas

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

were 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

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

she asked, her

Her song was preselected. She’s got ‘Waltz in

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

not pick a similar piece for her? That way, she gets to feel what

278 Yearning for a

playing fair, they had no reason to be fair to

seemed confident, probably thanks to mastering the ice

waltz.

been honing in on

now, it was time to bring