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.

on Sierra. Despite a few subtle hints for improvement, it was mostly a

venue,” the

Bagging the top spot in the group

the host’s rundown of the votes for the

Yearning for

out with their counterparts

stage, only to bump into Sierra backstage, who seemed to be lingering there as if on

hand clenched tightly at her side. “Don’t go

light. “Ah well, gotta give credit where it’s due.

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

across.

words, I’m gonna come out on top! The championship trophy is as

in her mind, she couldn’t shake off thoughts of the two judges up there who seemed friendly with the Pierces. Seeing Sierra’s unwavering confidence, it all clicked into

Pierces and the Camerons had teamed up, hell–bent on propelling Sierra

Maggie, she couldn’t

selections in the competition could be

past Sierra, she swiftly dialed

she greeted as he picked up.

into any fishy business with the song selection for the university

ASAP, Lucas replied,

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

songs are randomly picked, but is it yours? Not so much. Here’s the proof,” he explained, sending a code

her spine, finally understanding why she got stuck

asked,

She’s got ‘Waltz in G Major,”

pause, Maggie spoke softly, “Help her get rid of

gets to feel what it’s

for a

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

on edge, now seemed

waltz.

pieces, Sierra had been honing in on perfecting just one, undoubtedly making her performance shine.

now, it was time to bring