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

the last competition wrapped up, Maggie went over the feedback on Sierra. Despite a few subtle hints for improvement, it was mostly a shower of

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

Bagging

rundown of the votes for the other two contestants

Yearning for

have to duke it out with

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

cold glare, her hand clenched tightly at her side. “Don’t go thinking those votes mean you’re

“Ah well, gotta give credit where it’s due. Thanks

like she was

across.

But mark my words, I’m gonna come out on top! The championship trophy is as

her mind, she couldn’t shake off thoughts of the two judges up there who

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

couldn’t help but dive deeper

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

Sierra, she swiftly dialed Lucas’s

greeted as he picked up.

song selection

ASAP, Lucas replied, his tone

time. He

are randomly picked, but is it yours? Not so much. Here’s

why she got stuck

asked, her curiosity

song was preselected. She’s got ‘Waltz

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

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

278 Yearning for a Kiss

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

who had previously been on edge, now seemed confident, probably thanks

waltz.

in on perfecting just

was time to bring her down a