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 to Sierra.

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 up.

are through the roof, both inside and outside the venue,” the host exclaimed, peering at the

number! Bagging the top spot

host’s rundown of the votes for the

for

to duke it out with their counterparts from different

Maggie swiftly exited from the stage, only to bump into

go thinking those votes mean you’re

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

calm reply left Sierra fuming, feeling like she was

across.

gonna come out on top! The championship trophy is as

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

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

she couldn’t

the competition could be rigged, hiding some sneaky

she swiftly dialed

as he picked

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

ASAP, Lucas replied, his tone

wasted no time.

it yours? Not so much.

she got stuck with one of the most

asked,

preselected. She’s got

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

feel what it’s like without

for

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

on edge, now seemed confident,

waltz.

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

was time to bring