A young man married a 70-year-old Arab widow solely for her fortune; but on the first night, when he pretended to be asleep and slightly opened his eyes, he saw something that filled him with genuine terror 

The young man did not marry the 70-year-old Arab widow out of love. He knew perfectly wel that after her death, the entire inheritance — and it was a vast sum of money — would pass to him. For that, he was willing to endure a few years. Especially since, after a stroke, the woman could barely walk and appeared completely weak.

The wedding took place quietly, without joy or guests. He saw the bride for the first time wearing a closed dress and a heavy silk hijab. Her face was hidden, her gaze lowered. Throughout the entire time, she did not say a single word — such were the traditions.

On the wedding night, they were left alone in a large bedroom. The husband settled on the sofa, turned toward the wall, and pretended to be asleep. He did not even want to touch the old woman.

Outside the window, the lights of the night city shimmered. The room was silent. He felt her presence — very close.
After some time, she slowly stood up. He slightly opened his eyes, believing she would not notice.

The woman approached the mirror and began to remove her hijab, certain that her husband was asleep.

And at that moment, he saw something that filled him with absolute horror…  Continued in the first comment 

Under the hijab was a young face. Smooth skin. Sharp features. Not a single wrinkle. No trace of illness. A young woman stood before the mirror.

He was seized by real terror. It meant only one thing: there would be no inheritance.

She was young. That meant she would outlive him. And he would not be able to divorce her — the traditions would not allow it. He had trapped himself. Now he was destined to spend his entire life with a woman he did not love, for money he would never receive.

He stared at her, unable to look away.

Then his wife slowly turned around. She approached the sofa. Leaned so close that he could feel her breath.

Softly, almost in a whisper, she said:

— I know why you married me.

A brief pause.

— But you will get nothing.

She straightened up and calmly walked away, leaving him lying in the darkness with that thought.

That night, he did not sleep at all. And for the first time, he realized that the most frightening thing in this story was not the money… but the fact that he himself had become a victim of his own greed.