In Why Men Marry Bitches , Argov uses the metaphor of a cookie. If a man gets the "cookie" (affection, time, intimacy, or commitment) for free, without any investment, he won’t value it. She argues that a woman must ensure a man "pays" for the cookie with respect, time, and emotional investment.

And Mark? He proposed on a Tuesday—not with a grand gesture, but with a quiet truth: “I’m not afraid of losing you anymore. I’m just grateful I get to keep you.”

That was the first time in six months he’d asked a question about her life.