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.

feedback on Sierra. Despite a few subtle

roof, both inside and outside the venue,” the host exclaimed,

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

eagerly awaited the host’s rundown

for a

would have to duke it out with their counterparts from

only to bump into Sierra backstage, who seemed to

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

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

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

across.

your moment in the spotlight while you can, Maggie. But mark my words, I’m gonna come out on top! The championship trophy is

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

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

she couldn’t

the supposedly random song selections in the competition could be rigged, hiding some sneaky tricks up their sleeves.

strode past Sierra, she swiftly dialed Lucas’s

she greeted as he picked up.

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

it ASAP, Lucas replied, his

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

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

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

asked,

was preselected. She’s got ‘Waltz in

a brief pause, Maggie spoke softly, “Help her

That way, she gets to feel what it’s like without any favouritism, Lucas proposed, a frown greasing his brow.

278 Yearning for a Kiss

playing fair, they had no reason to be fair to those

edge, now seemed confident, probably thanks

waltz.

were juggling multiple pieces, Sierra had been honing in on perfecting just one, undoubtedly making her performance

to bring her down a