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

last competition 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 clear what was

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

staggering number! Bagging the top spot in the group and sailing straight through to the

rundown of

Yearning for a

have to duke it out with their counterparts

only to bump

tightly at her side. “Don’t go thinking those votes mean

with a casual smile, her tone light. “Ah well, gotta give credit where it’s due.

she was punching cotton, unable

across.

enjoy 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 eyes blazed with determination, her voice

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

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

she couldn’t help but dive deeper

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

Sierra, she

as he

into any fishy business with the song selection for the university competition? Particularly, see if there’s anything

get on it ASAP, Lucas replied,

competition, Lucas wasted no time. He

folks‘ songs are randomly picked, but is it yours? Not so much. Here’s the proof,”

her spine, finally understanding why she got stuck with one of the most challenging songs.

she asked,

She’s got ‘Waltz

“Help her get

piece for her? That way, she gets to feel what it’s like without any favouritism, Lucas proposed, a frown

for

If the competition wasn’t playing fair, they had no reason to be fair to those

previously been on edge, now seemed confident,

waltz.

Sierra had been honing in on perfecting just one, undoubtedly making her performance

it was time to bring her down a peg