“If you’re not paying, you’re the product.”
Everything humans do is transactional. Love, friendship, loyalty, marriage—every single one is an exchange of value dressed in sentiment. The sentiment isn’t fake. But it is a costume.
Strip the costume off any relationship and you’ll find two people negotiating for something they need. The wealthier you are, the more honest those transactions become.
Relationships are bundled services for people who can’t afford à la carte. Marriage is a subscription model for someone who can’t pay per feature. That’s not cynical. That’s economics.