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

on Sierra. Despite a few subtle hints for improvement, it was mostly a shower of compliments. It

venue,” the host exclaimed, peering at

down: Maggie racked up 187,655 votes from inside and outside the venue! That’s a staggering number! Bagging the top spot in the group and sailing straight

a grateful bow, Maggie eagerly awaited the host’s rundown of the votes for the other

Yearning for a

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

from the stage, only to bump into Sierra backstage, who seemed to be lingering there as if on

tightly at her side. “Don’t go thinking those votes mean you’re soine talent. You’re just riding

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

calm reply left Sierra fuming, feeling like she was punching

across.

The championship trophy is as good as mine!” Sierra’s eyes

couldn’t shake off thoughts of the two judges up

teamed up, hell–bent on propelling Sierra to the championship spot, hence her unwavering

this dawned on Maggie, she couldn’t

wondered if the supposedly random song selections in the competition could be rigged, hiding

strode past Sierra, she

she greeted as

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

on it ASAP, Lucas

the competition, Lucas wasted no time. He accessed

looks like most folks‘ songs are randomly picked, but is it yours? Not

she got stuck with one of the most challenging

she asked,

deal. Her song was preselected. She’s got ‘Waltz in G Major,” Lucas informed

“Help her get rid of

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

been on edge, now seemed

waltz.

multiple pieces, Sierra had been honing in on perfecting just

to bring her