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 to

subtle hints for improvement,

votes are through the roof, both inside and outside the venue,” the host exclaimed, peering at the latest stats with a hint of

staggering number! Bagging the top spot in the group and sailing straight through to the next round! Way

awaited the host’s rundown of the votes for the

Yearning for a

to duke it out

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

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

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

Sierra fuming, feeling like she was punching cotton, unable

across.

in the spotlight while you can, Maggie. But mark my words, I’m gonna come out on top! The championship trophy is as good as mine!” Sierra’s eyes blazed with determination,

judges up there who seemed friendly with the Pierces.

like the Pierces and the Camerons had teamed up, hell–bent

Maggie, she couldn’t

She wondered if the supposedly random song selections in the competition could be rigged, hiding some sneaky tricks up

strode past Sierra, she swiftly dialed Lucas’s number.

greeted as

selection for the university competition? Particularly,

it ASAP, Lucas replied,

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

yours? Not so much. Here’s the proof,” he explained, sending a code snippet to Maggie’s phone as he

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

she asked, her curiosity piqued.

She’s got ‘Waltz in G Major,” Lucas

spoke softly, “Help her get rid of that

feel what it’s like without any favouritism, Lucas proposed, a frown greasing

278 Yearning for a

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

previously been on edge, now seemed confident,

waltz.

juggling multiple pieces, Sierra had been honing in on perfecting just

it was time to bring her