She owned him though by not telling him Talas is still alive and she'll keep that secret to her grave. He's going to be stuck up on returning that dowry etc etc, living miserably forever. While MIL is at peace and looks like she's just treating him as white noise.
I also love how Talas has a great mind of entrepreneurship. She whipped tons of embroidery to sell for travel expanses, traded her own scarf for that one Moroccan lady for a new one, and now she's probably going to propose horse trading to Smith. She's the best bride of the series.