The glamorous world of a New York City heiress shattered when her husband of more than two decades confessed to an affair and walked out on their family, leaving her as the sole guardian of their four children.
A Life Unravelled During Lockdown
Flobelle 'Belle' Fairbanks Burden, 56, is the granddaughter of famed socialite Babe Paley and a descendant of railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt. In her recently published memoir, Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage, she details the catastrophic collapse of her marriage to hedge fund manager Henry Davis, 60.
The crisis began in March 2020, as the family retreated to their $4.7 million holiday home on Martha's Vineyard to escape the burgeoning Covid-19 pandemic. Just six days into quarantine, Burden received a life-altering phone call.
The Devastating Revelation and Aftermath
An unknown man left a voicemail stating, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but your husband is having an affair with my wife." When confronted, Davis allegedly admitted to a month-long relationship with a 35-year-old mother of two he met through work. His mistress later attempted suicide after the affair was uncovered.
Initially apologetic, Davis's stance changed dramatically. On March 21, 2020, he packed a bag, left for New York City without saying goodbye to his children, and declared via phone that he wanted a divorce. "I thought I was happy but I'm not. I feel like a switch has flipped. I'm done," he told her.
He reportedly told Burden she could have sole custody of their three daughters and son, along with both the Martha's Vineyard house and their New York apartment. "You can have the house and the apartment. You can have custody of the kids. I don't want it. I don't want any of it," he said, according to her account.
A New, Separate Life
Following the divorce, Davis traded the family's luxurious lifestyle for a sleek two-bedroom apartment, converting the second bedroom into an office—ensuring no space for his children to stay overnight. Burden, who was 50 at the time of separation, claims he told her, "You’ll be fine. You’re still young," as one of his final remarks.
Six years on, Davis sees the children occasionally for dinners or tennis but is not involved in co-parenting. Burden remains their sole guardian, stating there have been "no handovers or holidays since the day he left." She expresses continued bewilderment at his complete withdrawal, unsure if her age or the pressures of the pandemic contributed to his decision.
Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage, which lays bare this story of betrayal and abandonment, was released on January 13.
