“Even if she does leave, at least she’d leave behind a child. That solves Dylan’s future care needs, doesn’t it?
“It’s a deal that can’t possibly go wrong. Your uncle has everything to gain and nothing to lose.”
The cold, calculated nature of her words had chilled me to the bone. None of the relatives around us had objected, either. Instead, they chimed in, offering suggestions on how best to ensure the girl stayed long enough to marry and have Dylan’s child.
Once as a college student myself, I couldn’t stand it. My education had instilled in me the knowledge that this was morally wrong.
I had looked at Teresa, who was about my age, with a growing sense of sympathy and guilt.
Dylan, already thirty-two, was an average-looking man doing manual labor at construction sites, while Teresa was only twenty-three and still a senior in college. She looked so naïve, likely drawn to Dylan’s attention and kindness, eagerly awaiting their wedding.
Eventually, my conscience got the better of me.
I gave in, secretly warning her about the situation, explaining Dylan’s hereditary mental illness and urging her to reconsider the marriage carefully.