Martha’s Vineyard Quarantine Marks End of Heiress’s Marriage

When Belle Burden, a New York heiress, and her then-husband Henry Davis chose to isolate their family in their Martha’s Vineyard home at the start of the pandemic, they couldn’t foresee it would lead to the dissolution of their marriage.

Belle, granddaughter of a well-known magazine editor, has shared reflections from her memoir, “Strangers: A Memoir of a Marriage,” published in 2016. After settling into the villa, Belle received a voicemail one evening that would change everything. A man’s voice stated, “I’m trying to reach Bell… I regret to inform you that your husband is having an affair with my wife.”

In a startling move, Belle noted how her husband seemed to sense she knew something was amiss, even before she confronted him. Initially, he downplayed the affair, claiming it had lasted only weeks and was meaningless. Yet, while maintaining the facade of normalcy for their children, the reality of their crumbling world was hard to ignore. Later that night, during a phone call, Henry revealed that his wife had attempted suicide.

Belle later recounted that he approached her, fully dressed, and bluntly expressed his desire for a divorce, indicating he was ready to move out immediately. He offered her custody of their children, which left her reeling. “I spent days trying to shield the kids from the truth,” she shared. The therapist suggested postponing discussions until the pandemic felt less threatening.

However, as the pandemic intensified, so did Belle’s struggles. She described arriving at dinner with puffy eyes, feeling overwhelmed. “I cried while doing laundry,” she admitted, noting the emotional toll was compounded by the isolation and chaos surrounding her. It was a tough time; even eating felt like a challenge.

Belle recounted that her husband never provided clarity on what had gone wrong, and while she initially stood by him, a rift formed that distanced her from his family. “If things had been normal, perhaps we would have faced each other in New York, understanding the situation better,” she reflected. Instead, geographical separation only deepened her confusion about his departure.

Now, five years later, Belle feels no closer to understanding his reasons. She mentioned that Henry hasn’t remarried but maintains a job at a hedge fund and occasionally sees their children; however, he remains uninterested in co-parenting actively. “I don’t know why he left. I don’t think I ever will,” Belle concluded.

“Strangers” was released recently, shedding light on her personal journey.