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

the last competition wrapped up, 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.

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

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

eagerly awaited the host’s rundown of the

for

it out with their counterparts from different groups.

Maggie swiftly exited from the stage, only to bump

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

“Ah well, gotta give credit where

fuming, feeling like she was punching cotton,

across.

on top! The championship trophy is as good as mine!” Sierra’s eyes blazed with determination, her voice icy, and her demeanour

off thoughts of the two judges up there who seemed friendly

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

this dawned on Maggie, she couldn’t help

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

she swiftly

she greeted as he

fishy business with the song selection

ASAP, Lucas replied,

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

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

spine, finally understanding why she got stuck with one of

Sierra’s?” she asked, her

preselected. She’s got ‘Waltz in G

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

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

Yearning for a

competition wasn’t playing fair, they had no reason to be fair to those who biased either.

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

waltz.

in on perfecting

was time to bring her