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

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

votes are through the roof, both inside and outside the venue,” the host exclaimed, peering at

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

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

278 Yearning for a

would have to duke it out with their counterparts

exited from the stage, only to bump into Sierra backstage, who seemed to be lingering there as if on purpose.

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

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

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

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

couldn’t help but dive deeper

random song selections in the competition could be rigged, hiding some sneaky tricks up their

she swiftly dialed Lucas’s number.

she greeted as he picked up.

any fishy business with the song selection for the university competition? Particularly, see if there’s anything shady going

on it ASAP,

time. He accessed the

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

her spine, finally understanding why she got stuck with one of the

Sierra’s?” she asked,

deal. Her song was preselected. She’s got ‘Waltz in G Major,” Lucas informed her.

softly, “Help her get

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

Yearning for a Kiss

playing fair,

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

waltz.

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

now, it was time to bring