NYC heiress says one moment exposed her husband’s secret affair after 21 years together

Marriage, trust, and betrayal are major themes in Flobelle “Belle” Fairbanks Burden’s forthcoming memoir, Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage.

Flobelle “Belle” Fairbanks Burden, a New York heiress and the granddaughter of legendary socialite Babe Paley, has revealed the shocking way her two-decade marriage to hedge fund executive Henry Davis unraveled completely triggered by a call from an unknown person.

A Voicemail That Changed Everything

In an excerpt from her upcoming memoir, Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage, published by the Times of London, Burden describes how she primarily dismissed a call from an unknown number. The voicemail that followed left her astonished.

“I’m trying to reach Belle. I’m sorry to tell you this, but your husband is having an affair with my wife,” the message stated.

Quarantining During COVID-19

During March 2020, the pair and their two youngest children were quarantining at their $7.5 million Martha’s Vineyard home at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Burden and Davis were working remotely, she mentioned.

The Confrontation

Burden, 56, confronted her 60-year-old husband in regard to the claim, at which he reportedly confessed to an affair with a much younger colleague he had met through work. Davis allegedly stated that he was “embarrassed” and that the connection had lasted only “a few weeks,” noting that it was “over” now.

The situation reportedly intensified when the mistress attempted to take her own life following the affair getting exposed. Quoting a text from the jilted husband, Burden cites: “I think a month… But I can’t text because my wife has tried to kill herself. She’s in an ambulance.”

Divorce Announcement

The very subsequent day, Davis allegedly told Burden he needed a divorce. He reportedly left without seeing his children and later placed a chillingly detached call to conclude the marriage.

“I thought I was happy but I’m not. I thought I wanted our life but I don’t,” Davis reportedly cited. “I feel like a switch has flipped. I’m done.”

“You can have the [Martha’s Vineyard] house and the [New York] apartment. You can have custody of the kids. I don’t want it. I don’t want any of it,” he further said.

Burden said she never obtained a clear explanation for the sudden conclusion of their 21-year marriage, and Davis allegedly stopped answering her calls completely.

“I’ll answer what I want, when I want. I’ll speak when I want. I’ll decide when I want,” Davis allegedly texted. Burden also states that Davis’ family, after primarily engaging with her, suddenly cut off communication, noting a necessity to support him.

Almost five years later, Burden states that Davis sees their three children only occasionally for dinners or tennis matches, without any real co-parenting participation. “There have been no handovers or holidays since the day he left,” she cited, adding that she doesn’t know if Davis remains involved with his former mistress or if there were other affairs during their marriage.

Memoir Insights

Her memoir explores the emotional fallout of finding infidelity in such a shocking and impersonal way via a stranger’s voicemail and the lasting impact it had on her family dynamics.

FAQs:

Q1. Who is Flobelle “Belle” Fairbanks Burden?
She is a New York heiress and granddaughter of socialite Babe Paley. She recently published a memoir explaining her marriage and its unexpected conclusion.

Q2. What is the title of her book?
Her memoir is called Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage. It concentrates on her marriage, infidelity, and family life.