Taken Aback
A. When I walked into the reunion and saw how much she had changed since we last met years ago, I was genuinely taken aback by the transformation and the stories she shared.
B. They were completely taken aback when they received the unexpected news that they had won the competition, as they had never anticipated such a result.
C. Although taken aback by such intimacy from a stranger, as well as terrified himself, he felt an overwhelming need to comfort her.