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

Maggie 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.

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

and outside the venue! That’s a staggering number! Bagging the top spot

the host’s rundown of the votes for the other

278 Yearning for a Kiss

out with

only to bump into Sierra backstage, who seemed to

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

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

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

across.

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 demeanour

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

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

she couldn’t help but

supposedly random song selections in the competition

Sierra, she swiftly

greeted as he

do me a favour and look into any fishy business with the song selection for the university competition? Particularly, see if

I’ll get on it ASAP, Lucas

competition, Lucas wasted no time. He accessed the backstage system

is it yours? Not so much. Here’s the proof,”

why she got stuck with one of the most

Sierra’s?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

song was preselected. She’s got

softly, “Help her get rid

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

278 Yearning for

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

had previously been on edge, now seemed confident,

waltz.

multiple pieces, Sierra had been honing in on perfecting just

bring her