City heiress shares how she discovered her husband’s infidelity

New Book Chronicles Heiress’s Marriage Breakdown

A New York heiress has recently opened up about the unraveling of her nearly 20-year marriage to her hedge fund husband. Flobel “Belle” Fairbanks Burden, who is the granddaughter of iconic socialite Babe Paley, shares her experiences in an upcoming book titled “Strangers: A Marriage Memoir.” In a revealing excerpt, she details the shocking moment she received a phone call from a stranger alleging her husband was unfaithful.

Initially, Burden ignored calls from unknown numbers, but one message stood out. It was a voicemail that read, “I’m trying to contact Bell. I’m sorry to tell you this, but your husband is having an affair with my wife.”

In March 2020, while the family was quarantining in their $7.5 million vacation home on Martha’s Vineyard due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her husband Henry Davis, a hedge fund executive, was working remotely, as was she.

After learning of the alleged affair, Burden, 56, confronted Davis, 60. During this discussion, Davis purportedly admitted to an affair with a much younger colleague.

Burden recalled that Davis expressed feeling “embarrassed” and claimed the affair had only lasted “a few weeks,” insisting it was “over.” However, Burden also mentioned that the other woman’s husband had sent alarming messages, indicating that she attempted suicide once the affair came to light.

When Burden emailed the mistress about the duration of the affair, the response stated, “I think it’s been about a month.” The message took a darker turn, with the husband adding that his wife was in an ambulance.

The next day, Davis apparently told Burden he wished to divorce her. He left without saying goodbye to their children and later chose to end the marriage over the phone, which felt very abrupt.

According to Burden, Davis said, “I thought I was happy, but I’m not,” adding that he felt like something had changed significantly. He told her she could keep their vacation home and apartment and didn’t want custody of their children.

Burden expressed confusion and frustration over the lack of clarity Davis provided about why their long marriage fell apart, noting he ceased all communication afterward.

Further complicating matters, Davis’s family initially supported Burden but then distanced themselves as they chose to rally around him instead.

Now, nearly five years later, Burden asserts that Davis sees their three children only occasionally, perhaps for dinner or tennis, and has not actively participated in co-parenting.

She remarked, “There have been no handoffs or holidays since the day he left,” adding uncertainty about whether Davis is still with his mistress or if he engaged in other infidelities during their marriage.