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

wrapped up, Maggie went over the feedback on Sierra. Despite a few subtle

venue,” the host exclaimed, peering at the latest stats with a hint

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

rundown of the votes for

Yearning for

have to duke it out with

from the stage, only to bump into Sierra backstage, who seemed

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

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

Sierra fuming, feeling like she

across.

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 icy, and her

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

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

on Maggie, she couldn’t help

the competition could be

Maggie strode past Sierra, she swiftly

greeted as he picked up.

and look into any fishy business with the song selection for the university competition?

on it ASAP, Lucas replied,

on the competition, Lucas wasted no time. He

yours? Not so much. Here’s the

felt a shiver down her spine, finally understanding why she got stuck with one of

asked, her

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

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

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

for

wasn’t playing fair, they had no reason to

had previously been on edge, now seemed

waltz.

honing in on perfecting just one, undoubtedly making her performance shine.

was time to bring her down