Writing out talaaq without the intention of divorce

My husband is from another country. He married me here as a second wife. When he returned to his country his first wife got angry and demanded that he divorce me. He chose her and her children. Together they went to a sheikh and asked for divorce. He wrote I divorce Layla (my name) 3 times. His wife then took the letter and sent it to me with his cousin. My husband tells me that the divorce was not valid and we have been married for 3 years now and for 3 years I did not see him but he says we are still married. I am a revert and I don't understand. Please give me an answer to my
problem.