New York City Heiress Reveals Marriage Breakdown
A New York City heiress has opened up about the signs that her ex-husband distanced himself from their three children following his alleged affair with a younger colleague, which led to the end of their 20-year marriage.
Flobel “Belle” Fairbanks Burden, granddaughter of famed socialite Babe Paley, discusses her marriage to hedge fund executive Henry Davis in her book, *Strangers: A Memoir of a Marriage*, published by The London Times.
Baden, 56, states that Davis, 60, left their Martha’s Vineyard home the day after his mistress attempted suicide. He departed from his substantial $7.5 million fortune without a word to his children, even calling off the marriage over the phone.
According to Baden’s account, he allegedly said, “You can have custody of your child. I don’t want it. I don’t want anything,” expressing a clear detachment.
At that moment, the family was isolated in a luxurious vacation home in Massachusetts, seeking shelter amid the pandemic.
After their divorce was finalized, Ms. Davis moved into a two-bedroom apartment in New York City, converting the second room into a home office. Baden noted that this left no space for guests, including their children.
“I still thought he would want to make a home for the kids,” she reflected, uncertain why he would follow through with his choice of no custody or overnight visits.
Baden described that, while Davis still had occasional interactions with the children, such as tennis matches and family dinners, there had been no meaningful connection or shared holidays since his departure.
She expressed frustration in her memoir, sharing that her father seemingly offered no clear reason for ending their 21-year marriage and eventually stopped taking her calls altogether.
Davis reportedly communicated, “I answer what I want, when I want. I speak when I want. I decide when I want,” which conveys a disregard for the situation.
The unraveling of their marriage was catalyzed by a phone call from the husband of Davis’s mistress, who informed Baden of the affair.
In a voicemail, this man conveyed, “I’m sorry to say this, but your husband is having an affair with my wife.” Baden confronted Davis, who initially denied the affair but later admitted to a relationship with someone he met at work. Despite pleading with Baden that the affair was over, he quickly returned to his mistress after a suicide attempt.
Baden mentioned that she briefly maintained contact with Davis’s family, but they abruptly cut ties, stating they needed to focus on supporting him instead.
In closing, she noted uncertainty about the current status of Davis and his mistress, revealing lingering questions about their past and future together.
