Following my cousin’s advice, I married a Korean man to change my life. On our wedding day, I was wearing so much gold that it covered my neck, and everyone said I was lucky, but at our wedding night, when I lifted the sheet and saw what was underneath, I jumped up and ran away…

There were four sisters in my family; I was the youngest

Since I was little, I was used to living from day to day.

My cousin married a Korean man and returned home with a mansion, a car, and her hands full of gold.

Every time she returned, the whole town was in an uproar; everyone said her life had changed.

“Marry a Korean. Your life will be different. I’ll introduce you to one; I’m sure he’ll be a good match!”

I hesitated, but seeing her so splendid, my heart warmed.

Who doesn’t want to escape poverty?

My cousin put me in touch with a matchmaking agency.

After several calls, I met Lee Min Ho, a 45-year-old engineer from Seoul.

He was polite, spoke broken Spanish, and promised me a comfortable life.

After three months of conversations, he proposed. I accepted, not out of love, but because of the dream of “changing my life” that my cousin had drawn for me.

On the day of the wedding in my village, I felt like a princess.

He sent 10 gold bars, which covered my neck and arms.

The whole village marveled, saying how lucky I was.

My cousin smiled happily: “You see, am I wrong?”

At our wedding night, after the celebratory dinner, we went to a luxurious hotel in the city before flying to Korea.

I was nervous, my heart pounding.

He got out of the shower, put on a bathrobe, and sat on the bed.

I lifted the sheet, preparing to go to bed, but as I did, I froze.

He put on the bathrobe, sat on the bed, and looked at me with a strange look.

I lifted the sheet, I was getting ready to go to bed, but as I did, I froze: underneath were dozens of mannequin dolls of all sizes, arranged as if asleep.

They all had pale faces, wide-open eyes, and eerie smiles. Some were even wearing wedding dresses.

I panicked and screamed.