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

a few subtle hints for improvement, it was mostly a shower of compliments.

the host exclaimed, peering at the latest stats with a hint

Bagging the top spot in the group and sailing straight through to

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

278 Yearning for

would have to duke it out with their counterparts

results were out, Maggie swiftly exited from the stage, only to bump into Sierra backstage, who seemed to be lingering there

tightly at her side. “Don’t go thinking those votes mean

with a casual smile, her tone light. “Ah well,

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

across.

enjoy your moment 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

thoughts of the two judges up there who seemed friendly

Camerons had teamed up, hell–bent on propelling Sierra to the championship spot, hence her unwavering

she couldn’t help but dive

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

Sierra, she swiftly

greeted as he picked

favour and look into any fishy business with the song selection for the university competition? Particularly, see if there’s anything shady going on with Sierra’s

it, I’ll get on it ASAP, Lucas replied, his

Lucas wasted no time. He accessed the backstage system and delved into the investigation.

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

understanding why she got stuck with one of the most challenging songs.

asked,

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

Maggie spoke softly, “Help

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

Yearning for a

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

who had previously been on edge, now seemed

waltz.

had been honing in on perfecting just one, undoubtedly making

time to bring her