Mara Ilaya

Chapter 10 is up! 
          
          Renovations have officially begun—and so have the unexpected house visits.
          
          This chapter gives us:
          ☕ Renovation talks over coffee
          ️ Big dreams, floor plans, and “thinking out loud” moments
           A wildly energetic little visitor who has no concept of personal space
           A calm architect who listens… a little too well
           And a verbal slip so powerful it deserves its own category:
          CENOMAR OLYMPICS (Gold Medalist, Female Division)
          
          Clara tries to stay demure.
          She fails. Spectacularly.
          
          Meanwhile, Elias learns things he didn’t ask for but is… apparently good to know.
          
          Light, awkward, and quietly dangerous in a slow-burn way.
          Read Chapter 10 now 

Chapter 9: Boss, Tulala?
          
          Cupcakes at the door.
          A child who doesn’t filter her honesty.
          And a man who suddenly forgets how to speak.
          
          In this chapter, Elias tries to balance work, fatherhood, and professionalism—
          until the woman across the street shows up at his door with cupcakes and a smile that throws his entire system off-balance.
          
          Sophie adores her.
          Tina notices everything.
          And Elias?
          He’s very much tulala—even if he refuses to admit it.
          
          Sometimes, it’s not love at first sight.
          Sometimes, it’s confusion.
          Awkward silences.
          And a heart that starts doing things it hasn’t done in a long time.
          
           Chapter 9 is now up.
          Read Boss, Tulala? now.

Chapter 9: Boss, Tulala?
          
          She came with cupcakes.
          He lost his words.
          
          Between pancakes, a very observant little girl,
          and an assistant who notices everything,
          Elias finds himself in unfamiliar territory—
          awkward, quiet, and unexplainably affected by the woman across the street.
          
          Sophie likes her.
          Tina teases him.
          And Elias… well, Elias stares a little too long.
          
          Maybe it’s nothing.
          Maybe it’s just a neighbor.
          Or maybe—
          his heart is remembering how to feel again.
          
           Chapter 9 is now published on Wattpad.
          Read Boss, Tulala? today.
          

Chapter 8: Lessee and Lessor, and Neighbors
          
          What began as a business meeting turns into something neither of them expected.
          
          A building meant for dreams.
          A handshake meant for work.
          And the woman across the street—no longer just a silhouette in the distance.
          
          In this chapter, Elias finally meets Clara not as strangers, but as lessor and lessee, architect and dreamer… neighbors standing at the same starting point.
          
          Sometimes, life doesn’t introduce people loudly.
          It lets them find each other quietly—right where they belong.
          
          ✨ Chapter 8 is now live.
          Read Lessee and Lessor, and Neighbors today.

Chapter 7: The Woman Across the Street is now live.
          
          This chapter stays soft.
          
          Elias comes home early to a quiet house—and finds something heavier than silence.
          A tired child.
          A cry he can’t fix right away.
          And the quiet fear every parent carries: Am I doing enough?
          
          Tonight is about holding space.
          For loneliness.
          For feverish foreheads.
          For the kind of love that doesn’t ask to be seen—but shows up anyway.
          
          And across the street, under the same sky,
          someone breathes in peace without knowing she’s being watched.
          
          Sometimes, two lives move closer
          without touching—yet.
          
          Read Chapter 7: The Woman Across the Street now. 

 Chapter 6 is Now Live — The Architect
          
          Meet Elias.
          A man who builds spaces for a living—
          and a life around his three-year-old daughter.
          
          In this chapter, the story shifts.
          You wake up with him.
          You hear Sophie’s laughter before your coffee.
          You feel the weight of responsibility, love, and promises kept.
          
          This is not a grand entrance.
          It’s a gentle one.
          A father who wakes up tired but chooses love anyway.
          A man whose world revolves around small hands, pancakes, and bedtime hugs.
          And somewhere in the middle of his ordinary day…
          a new neighbor quietly enters the frame.
          
           Chapter 6: The Architect is now published.
          Read Elias’ POV today—and see Floréa from the other side.
          
          Sometimes, the strongest men are the ones who stay. 
          
          

 Chapter 5: Forging Dreams
          
          A new school.
          A familiar little face.
          And a building that feels like it’s been waiting all along.
          
          In this chapter, Clara takes another brave step forward — watching her daughter find her place,
          crossing paths with a child who feels strangely familiar, and finally standing in front of the dream she’s been carrying for years.
          
          Floréa is no longer just an idea.
          It has a location.
          A number to call.
          And a meeting set for tomorrow.
          
          Some dreams don’t arrive suddenly.
          They are forged — quietly, intentionally, one decision at a time.
          
           Chapter 5 is now published.
          Read Forging Dreams today. 

 A Floréa Christmas 
          
          This Christmas, may you find comfort in quiet moments,warmth in chosen family,and courage in new beginnings.
          Not every miracle arrives wrapped in ribbons.
          Some arrive as peace.
          Some as timing.
          Some as the strength to begin again.
          
          From When Floréa Blooms,
          thank you for reading, staying, and blooming with this story.
          
          Maligayang Pasko. ✨
          May your season be gentle, hopeful, and full of grace.
          
          
          — Mara Ilaya

 CHAPTER 4: Settling In for the Dream 
          Hi, loves. 
          Chapter 4 is now up.
          This chapter is quieter—but fuller.
          It’s about settling into a new house, laughter echoing in unfamiliar rooms, kids running wild, wine nights with best friends, and that gentle moment when everything finally goes still.
          No big twists.
          No grand declarations.
          Just the kind of peace that arrives when you’ve survived enough to finally rest.
          Clara doesn’t have everything figured out yet—but she’s learning that some dreams don’t need rushing. Some just need space, time, and the right people around you.
          Thank you for staying with her through this season.
          As always, feel free to vote, comment, or tell me which part made you smile (or laugh ).
          See you in the next chapter. 
          — Mara Ilaya

Chapter 3 is now up. 
          
          The story moves forward — gently, deliberately, and with intention.
          
          Read the newest chapter today.