Belle Burden’s “Strangers”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have this on hold at the library and I read the earlier NYT article.

I concur with most of what was said above and will add that the pandemic and being with the family 24/7 was probably what caused him to act. He probably never saw her or the kids, worked a lot and spent time as he wished after work and couldn't see his current AP. He was used to a lot of freedom and didn't want to live without it.

Definitely not being able to see the mistress triggered it. He told his wife he was going straight to see her right after he dumped her.

[Anonymous]

I bought and read the Kindle version in two days. I thought is was a sad, honest, and well-written read. Something similar happened to me recently and it was helpful to not feel alone. I think writing and publishing this book was brave given the deep sadness and shame associated with this type of event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She alludes to his leaving just as he made it really big time in his career, so it looks like he had been quietly planning and placed the cherry on top with an exit affair.

I’m looking forward to getting off the library waitlist for this book. I might have to buy it.

My STBX did the same thing. I assume our finances involve fewer zeros but it was the same kind of timing and carefully planned around a promotion and stock grants.

[Anonymous]

Her ex for quite a few years previously worked at an asset management firm in which one of her Mortimer relatives was the CEO. He benefited from her connections for a long time including financially to create his wealth. I can see why she doesn’t want to get married again from a financial standpoint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's on the modern love podcast today.

No gift links left: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/podcasts/belle-burden-husband-strangers.html?smid=url-share

online, there's a little blurb that says:

When reached for comment about Ms. Burden’s recollections relating to their divorce and custody of their children, Ms. Burden’s ex-husband provided the following response:

“While I disagree with many of her recollections, as well as her overall mischaracterization of my relationship with my children, I do not wish to comment in more detail in order to protect them from further violations of their privacy other than to say that I continue to lovingly support, and be lovingly supported by, my children.”

Yeah. That's a lie. Perhaps one he believes himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have this on hold at the library and I read the earlier NYT article.

I concur with most of what was said above and will add that the pandemic and being with the family 24/7 was probably what caused him to act. He probably never saw her or the kids, worked a lot and spent time as he wished after work and couldn't see his current AP. He was used to a lot of freedom and didn't want to live without it.

They were literally only one week into lockdown when he bailed. And I think the reason he bailed is because he got found out and knew his AP's spouse was going to tell his wife.

She was told about the affair before he bailed. I agree with the PPs saying he didn't want the tedium of family life day-to-day. Never had to do it before, unlikely to put himself in a position where he has to do it again. When she insisted on how *pleasant* their relationship was, I thought not difficult with someone you barely see in your segmented partnership of a marriage. Not at all surprising he didn't marry the AP with young children either. He wants a bachelor pad with zero responsibilities other than the obligatory but only occasional pleasant dinner or tennis game with his offspring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She's on the modern love podcast today.

No gift links left: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/podcasts/belle-burden-husband-strangers.html?smid=url-share

online, there's a little blurb that says:

When reached for comment about Ms. Burden’s recollections relating to their divorce and custody of their children, Ms. Burden’s ex-husband provided the following response:

“While I disagree with many of her recollections, as well as her overall mischaracterization of my relationship with my children, I do not wish to comment in more detail in order to protect them from further violations of their privacy other than to say that I continue to lovingly support, and be lovingly supported by, my children.”

Yeah. That's a lie. Perhaps one he believes himself.

You don't know that. None of us do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She's on the modern love podcast today.

No gift links left: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/podcasts/belle-burden-husband-strangers.html?smid=url-share

online, there's a little blurb that says:

When reached for comment about Ms. Burden’s recollections relating to their divorce and custody of their children, Ms. Burden’s ex-husband provided the following response:

“While I disagree with many of her recollections, as well as her overall mischaracterization of my relationship with my children, I do not wish to comment in more detail in order to protect them from further violations of their privacy other than to say that I continue to lovingly support, and be lovingly supported by, my children.”

Yeah. That's a lie. Perhaps one he believes himself.

You don't know that. None of us do.

He would have easy evidence to the contrary if it existed in the form of legal documents, and his lawyers would have produced it prior to the book being published, since he knew she was going to say that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have this on hold at the library and I read the earlier NYT article.

I concur with most of what was said above and will add that the pandemic and being with the family 24/7 was probably what caused him to act. He probably never saw her or the kids, worked a lot and spent time as he wished after work and couldn't see his current AP. He was used to a lot of freedom and didn't want to live without it.

They were literally only one week into lockdown when he bailed. And I think the reason he bailed is because he got found out and knew his AP's spouse was going to tell his wife.

She was told about the affair before he bailed. I agree with the PPs saying he didn't want the tedium of family life day-to-day. Never had to do it before, unlikely to put himself in a position where he has to do it again. When she insisted on how *pleasant* their relationship was, I thought not difficult with someone you barely see in your segmented partnership of a marriage. Not at all surprising he didn't marry the AP with young children either. He wants a bachelor pad with zero responsibilities other than the obligatory but only occasional pleasant dinner or tennis game with his offspring.

The AP’s husband called Belle Burden, and her husband was in the phone with the mistress at the same time. She writes about finding him talking to someone tenderly right after listening to her shattering voicemail. Stone cold sociopath.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She's on the modern love podcast today.

No gift links left: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/podcasts/belle-burden-husband-strangers.html?smid=url-share

online, there's a little blurb that says:

When reached for comment about Ms. Burden’s recollections relating to their divorce and custody of their children, Ms. Burden’s ex-husband provided the following response:

“While I disagree with many of her recollections, as well as her overall mischaracterization of my relationship with my children, I do not wish to comment in more detail in order to protect them from further violations of their privacy other than to say that I continue to lovingly support, and be lovingly supported by, my children.”

Yeah. That's a lie. Perhaps one he believes himself.

You don't know that. None of us do.

Nothing says father of the year like a man buying a home where his kids are not welcome.

[Anonymous]

I’ll bet he was having affairs all throughout. He just got caught because of the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She's on the modern love podcast today.

No gift links left: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/podcasts/belle-burden-husband-strangers.html?smid=url-share

online, there's a little blurb that says:

When reached for comment about Ms. Burden’s recollections relating to their divorce and custody of their children, Ms. Burden’s ex-husband provided the following response:

“While I disagree with many of her recollections, as well as her overall mischaracterization of my relationship with my children, I do not wish to comment in more detail in order to protect them from further violations of their privacy other than to say that I continue to lovingly support, and be lovingly supported by, my children.”

Yeah. That's a lie. Perhaps one he believes himself.

You don't know that. None of us do.

Nothing says father of the year like a man buying a home where his kids are not welcome.

My kids dad did this - cheated, I kicked him out, he moved into a 1 br, later got married and bought a $750,000 2 br (1 br and office). I offered him 50/50, which he never took. In over a decade the kids have slept on a pull-out sofa and blow up mattress when they visit him.

The impact on your own kids of a neglectful dad is truly painful to watch, and no amount of mother love or other male relatives or role models seem to fill it. My kids are in college now and neither are close to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have this on hold at the library and I read the earlier NYT article.

I concur with most of what was said above and will add that the pandemic and being with the family 24/7 was probably what caused him to act. He probably never saw her or the kids, worked a lot and spent time as he wished after work and couldn't see his current AP. He was used to a lot of freedom and didn't want to live without it.

Definitely not being able to see the mistress triggered it. He told his wife he was going straight to see her right after he dumped her.

The mistress’ husband called her. He got outed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have this on hold at the library and I read the earlier NYT article.

I concur with most of what was said above and will add that the pandemic and being with the family 24/7 was probably what caused him to act. He probably never saw her or the kids, worked a lot and spent time as he wished after work and couldn't see his current AP. He was used to a lot of freedom and didn't want to live without it.

They were literally only one week into lockdown when he bailed. And I think the reason he bailed is because he got found out and knew his AP's spouse was going to tell his wife.

Yep

[Anonymous]

My ex-Wife did this to me during Covid. Got the heads up from her AP’s wife who discovered their affair.