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

subtle hints for

are through the roof, both inside and outside the venue,” the

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

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

Yearning for

would have to duke it out with their counterparts from

only to bump into Sierra backstage, who seemed to

shot Maggie a cold glare, her hand clenched tightly at her side. “Don’t go thinking those votes mean you’re soine talent. You’re just riding

“Ah well, gotta give credit where

Sierra fuming, feeling like she was punching cotton,

across.

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 oozing confidence and

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

up, hell–bent on propelling Sierra to the

she couldn’t help but dive deeper

song selections in the competition could be rigged, hiding some

Sierra, she swiftly dialed Lucas’s number.

she greeted as he

fishy business with the song selection for the university competition? Particularly,

get on it ASAP, Lucas

keeping tabs on the competition, Lucas wasted no time. He accessed

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

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

she asked, her

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

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

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

for a Kiss

moment of thought. Maggie nodded in agreement. If the competition wasn’t playing fair, they had no reason to

had previously been on edge, now seemed confident, probably thanks to mastering

waltz.

were juggling multiple pieces, Sierra had been honing in on

now, it was time to bring