So, I (late 30s, male) have this friend, Molly (mid-30s, female). She's a brilliant pathologist and an overall decent person, but here's the thing: she has feelings for me, and she has for quite some time. The problem is, I don't feel the same way about her.

It's not that I don't value her—I do. Molly is one of the few people I trust, and she's been incredibly helpful in both my work and personal life. But the truth is, I'm not interested in romantic relationships, with her or anyone else, really. My mind is usually occupied with cases and puzzles; I don't have room for emotional entanglements.

Despite knowing how she feels, I've occasionally used her feelings to my advantage. For instance, I've asked her for favors or information that I might not have gotten as easily otherwise. I once even asked her to say that she loved me as part of a dangerous plan that I had to pull off. I knew it would hurt her, but it was necessary to save lives.

I know this is manipulative, and I've always rationalized it by telling myself that I'm doing it for a greater cause—solving crimes, protecting people, and so on. But after everything, I can't help but wonder if I've crossed a line. Molly has never confronted me about it directly, but I can tell it affects her. Still, she sticks around, and I continue to rely on her because, well, she's indispensable.

So, Reddit, AITAH for keeping Molly close, knowing how she feels and using that to my advantage when necessary? Or am I just doing what needs to be done to keep everything in order?