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.

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

inside and outside the venue,” the host exclaimed, peering at the latest

from inside and outside the venue! That’s a staggering number! Bagging the

eagerly awaited the host’s rundown of the votes for

278 Yearning for a

it out with their

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

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

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 cotton,

across.

top! The championship trophy is as good as

couldn’t shake off thoughts of the two judges up there who seemed friendly with the Pierces. Seeing Sierra’s

hell–bent on propelling Sierra

couldn’t help but dive

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

Maggie strode past Sierra, she

greeted as he

into any fishy business with the song selection for the university competition? Particularly, see if there’s anything shady going on with

I’ll get on it ASAP, Lucas replied, his tone

tabs on the competition, Lucas wasted no time. He accessed the backstage system and delved into the investigation.

It looks like most folks‘ songs are randomly picked, but is it yours? Not so much. Here’s the proof,” he explained,

her spine, finally understanding why she got stuck with one of the most challenging songs.

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

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

pause, Maggie spoke softly, “Help her get rid of that preset program.

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

278 Yearning for

a moment of thought. Maggie nodded in agreement. If the competition wasn’t playing fair, they had

on edge, now seemed

waltz.

had been honing in on perfecting just one, undoubtedly making

was time to bring her down a peg or