I see where you’re coming from, but I don’t fully agree. While no one “owns” another person in the sense of property, relationships, especially marriage, do involve a form of belongingness. Without it, there’s no real sense of accountability or commitment.

As you implied yourself, being open about it is the key.

Now, if you don’t believe in the institution of marriage, that’s your personal choice; no one can tell you otherwise. But when you do choose to enter into it, you’re accepting its boundaries and responsibilities, whether religious, legal, or personal.

You can’t have the benefits of commitment while ignoring the obligations that come with it. If your feelings change, honesty and transparency are the way out, not secrecy or as we say cheating. Otherwise, it’s not just a matter of “rights” being revoked; it’s a breach of trust you agreed to uphold in the first place.