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 Sierra.

a few subtle hints for improvement, it was mostly a shower of compliments. It was clear what was up.

are through the roof, both inside and outside the venue,” the host exclaimed, peering at the latest stats with a hint of

votes from inside and outside the venue! That’s a staggering number! Bagging the top spot in the group and sailing straight through to the next

the host’s rundown of the votes for the other two contestants

278 Yearning for a Kiss

duke it out with

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

glare, her hand clenched tightly at her side. “Don’t go thinking those

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

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

across.

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, and her demeanour

the two judges up there who seemed friendly

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

Maggie, she couldn’t

She wondered if the supposedly random song selections in the competition

she swiftly

she greeted as he picked

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

ASAP, Lucas replied, his tone

wasted no time. He accessed the backstage system

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

why she got stuck

Sierra’s?” she asked, her curiosity

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

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

way, she gets to feel what it’s like

for a

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

now seemed confident, probably thanks to mastering the ice

waltz.

others were juggling multiple pieces, Sierra had been honing in on perfecting just one, undoubtedly making

time to bring her down a peg or