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

wrapped up, Maggie went over the feedback on Sierra. Despite a few subtle hints for improvement, it was mostly

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

That’s a staggering number! Bagging the top spot

awaited the host’s rundown of the votes for the other two

for a Kiss

would have to duke it out with their counterparts from different

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

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

responded with a casual smile, her tone light. “Ah well, gotta give credit where it’s due. Thanks

fuming, feeling like she was

across.

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

two judges up there who seemed friendly with the Pierces. Seeing Sierra’s unwavering

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

this dawned on Maggie, she couldn’t help but dive deeper into

in the

strode past Sierra, she swiftly

as he

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

on it ASAP, Lucas replied, his tone serious.

no time.

looks like most folks‘ songs are randomly picked, but is it yours? Not so much.

finally understanding why she got stuck with

asked, her curiosity

song was preselected. She’s got ‘Waltz in G Major,”

softly, “Help her get rid of

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

Yearning for a Kiss

Maggie nodded in agreement. If the competition wasn’t playing fair,

been on edge, now seemed confident, probably thanks

waltz.

had been honing in on perfecting just one, undoubtedly

was time to bring her down a