Imagine learning your 21-year marriage is over through a stranger’s voicemail.
Flobelle "Belle" Fairbanks Burden, a 56-year-old New York heiress and granddaughter of socialite Babe Paley, recounts the unraveling of her marriage to hedge fund executive Henry Davis, 60, in her upcoming memoir, "Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage."
An excerpt published by The Times of London reveals how Burden discovered Davis’ alleged affair in March 2020 while quarantining with their family at their $7.5 million second home in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
After confronting him, Davis admitted to the relationship, and soon after, requested a divorce, leaving Burden to navigate the aftermath with their three children, the New York Post reported.
The story took a dramatic turn when Burden received a call from an unknown number, initially declined, only to find a voicemail waiting. The message was chilling, with the unidentified man stating, “I’m trying to reach Belle. I’m sorry to tell you this, but your husband is having an affair with my wife.”
That voicemail, received during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, set off a chain of events that would dismantle a two-decade union. Burden, working remotely alongside Davis at the time, confronted him about the accusation. He allegedly confessed to a brief relationship with a much younger woman met through work, claiming embarrassment and insisting it was already over.
Yet, the fallout deepened when Burden exchanged texts with the mistress’s husband, who revealed the affair had lasted about a month. The man added a harrowing detail: “But I can’t text because my wife has tried to kill herself. She’s in an ambulance.”
The very next day, Davis dropped another blow—he wanted a divorce. Burden writes that he left without a farewell to their children, offering a cold end to their shared life. His reported words cut deep, as he allegedly declared he no longer wanted their life together.
This abrupt departure raises serious questions about personal responsibility and family values in today’s fast-paced, often self-centered culture. When a marriage of 21 years can dissolve with such apparent disregard, it’s hard not to wonder if modern priorities have shifted too far from commitment. The lack of explanation, as Burden notes, only compounds the sense of betrayal.
Davis reportedly went further, telling Burden she could keep their Martha’s Vineyard home, New York apartment, and custody of their children, stating he wanted none of it. Such a statement, if true, paints a troubling picture of detachment. It’s a stark reminder of how some seem to walk away from duty when it suits them.
Nearly five years on, Burden claims Davis has been largely absent from co-parenting, seeing their three children only sporadically for dinners or tennis matches. She writes, “There have been no handovers or holidays since the day he left.” This detail underscores a painful void for the family left behind.
In an era where family structures are often under strain, this kind of disengagement feels like a broader cultural failing. Children deserve both parents’ presence, not just fleeting moments. Burden’s account suggests a man who checked out, leaving her to shoulder the load alone.
Davis’ family, initially communicative, reportedly cut ties with Burden to support him, while he ceased taking her calls. This isolation adds another layer of difficulty for a woman already navigating a fractured home. It’s a scenario that many single parents, abandoned by support networks, might find all too familiar.
Burden remains in the dark about whether Davis is still with the other woman or if other affairs marked their marriage. This uncertainty, paired with his lack of response to requests for comment, leaves much unresolved. It’s a silence that speaks volumes about accountability—or the lack thereof.
The progressive push to normalize fleeting relationships and downplay traditional vows often ignores stories like this, where real people face real pain. When marriage becomes just another disposable contract, families suffer the consequences. Burden’s memoir excerpt serves as a sobering counterpoint to such trends.
Ultimately, this tale of a high-profile couple’s collapse isn’t just gossip—it’s a cautionary note about the fragility of trust. Society thrives on strong familial bonds, not on whims that shatter them. As Burden rebuilds her life, her words remind us to value what truly matters before it’s gone.
