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 to

on Sierra. Despite a few subtle

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

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

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

278 Yearning for a Kiss

would have to duke it out with their counterparts

were out, Maggie swiftly exited from the stage, only to bump into Sierra

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

a casual smile, her tone light. “Ah well, gotta give

she was

across.

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

stayed quiet, but in her mind, she couldn’t shake off thoughts of the two judges up there

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

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

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

Maggie strode past Sierra, she

she greeted as he picked

a favour and look into any fishy business with the song selection for the university

it, I’ll get on it ASAP, Lucas

been keeping tabs on the competition, Lucas wasted no time. He accessed the backstage system

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

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

Sierra’s?” she asked, her curiosity

She’s got ‘Waltz in G Major,”

brief pause, Maggie spoke softly, “Help her get rid of

pick a similar piece for her? That way, she gets to feel what it’s like without any favouritism, Lucas proposed, a frown greasing his

278 Yearning for

If the competition wasn’t playing fair, they had no

had previously been on edge, now seemed confident,

waltz.

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

to bring her down