With her life and marriage breakdown splashed across the headlines, Ellie Aitken has fled Sydney with her children for an American ski resort.
The high society love triangle became the talk of the town after her husband Charlie Aitken, 48, admitted his romance with Ellie’s former best friend, Hollie Nasser.
The lawyer and socialite, 42, has tried to keep a low profile since and confessed to be struggling with the sudden elevation from unknown outside the eastern suburbs to national talking point.
Ellie Aitken (pictured left) and her now ex-husband Charlie Aitken (pictured right) in happier times
Love triangle – left to right, Christopher and Hollie Nasser with Ellie and Charlie Aitken
Ms Nasser was married to Mr Aitken’s business partner and longtime investor, Christopher Nasser.
In a city that loves gossip, the Aitken/Nasser entanglement meant their profiles were raised whether they wanted it or not.
Ellie has now reportedly laying low in another continent – she and her two children have gone to the ritzy ski town of Aspen, Colorado, in the US.
She flew out of Sydney on Wednesday for a quiet break in the Rocky Mountains, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
They will be skiing and glad of the chance to avoid the limelight in a small town where nobody knows them – and any photographers there are far more interested in the Hollywood elite that flock to Aspen for a white Christmas.
Ellie Aitken has fled from Sydney to the ski town of Aspen, Colorada, which is lovely this time of year
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Ms Aitken released an emotional statement before she flew out admitting she was not coping with the public fallout of her relationship breakdown.
‘The truth is that despite the support of friends and family I have not coped well with the deeply hurtful lies, gossip and innuendo that has surrounded the breakdown of my relationship,’ she said.
She announced she would be ‘taking a break from social media’ and public view while she and her family adjust to the separation and her estranged husband’s new relationship.
‘I had attempted to put on a brave face and tried to manage my feelings and wellbeing despite the fact that I have not had any control over the reasons for my sorrow.’
Ellie and Charlie did, briefly, put their differences aside and smiled for the camera with their son at his rugby team’s awards day.
She posted the photographs on Instagram just hours after pictures confirmed her investment banker husband of 19 years had set up home with his new love and her former best friend, Hollie Nasser, 36.
Ms Aitken claimed she was ‘pushed to [her] limit’, resulting in a rogue Instagram post calling out Ms Nasser.
In a post before taking a break from social media, Ms Aitken accused her former friend of ‘bullying’ her and exposed a series of texts between the two women.
Charlie Aitken (pictured left) and his estranged wife Ellie (pictured right) put on a brave face at their son’s (pictured front) rugby awards day
Ms Aitken shared a private text message she had received from Ms Nasser to Instagram accusing her of ‘playing the victim’ and blaming her for ‘ruining her marriage’.
‘Ellie there’s no point in us talking anymore,’ Ms Nasser’s message begins.
‘I can’t believe after… you are out there playing the victim and saying I ruined your perfect marriage.’
While Ellie is in Aspen, her former husband Charlie is said to have moved back into the family home in North Bondi – at least until his estranged wife and their children return.
In the last few weeks, he has been doing it tough in a serviced apartment above Bondi Junction’s noisy bus interchange.
He will have Scout, the family labrador, for company though, now that he’s back home for the time being.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk